'Undying spirits' : religion, medicine and institutional care of the dying 1878-1938
This thesis focuses upon the emergence of a new phenomenon in the late nineteenth century: institutional provision for the 'respectable poor' medically certified as 'dying'. For the first time this group was identified as having special medical, nursing and spiritual needs which could only be provided by trained staff through an institutional medium. Through a comparative study of three institutions founded in London - St Joseph's Hospice, the Hostel of God and St Luke's House - this study aims firstly, to understand why homes for the dying were set up during this period; secondly, to explore their foundation and development up to 1938; and thirdly, to situate them within the broader context of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Britain. It argues that the homes were essentially a response to three perceived deficiencies in care for the dying 'respectable' poor which became apparent to certain groups and individuals at this time: a paucity of medical provision, inadequacies in domiciliary care and a lack of spiritual ministration. As religious and philanthropic institutions, the homes were very much influenced by wider developments in these areas, particularly moral attitudes towards the poor and
Humphreys, Clare Joanne
Hospices
'Undying spirits' : religion, medicine and institutional care of the dying 1878-1938. This thesis focuses upon the emergence of a new phenomenon in the late nineteenth century: institutional provision for the 'respectable poor' medically certified as 'dying'. For the first time this group was identified as having special medical, nursing and spiritual needs which could only be provided by trained staff through an institutional medium. Through a comparative study of three institutions founded in London - St Joseph's Hospice, the Hostel of God and St Luke's House - this study aims firstly, to understand why homes for the dying were set up during this period; secondly, to explore their foundation and development up to 1938; and thirdly, to situate them within the broader context of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Britain. It argues that the homes were essentially a response to three perceived deficiencies in care for the dying 'respectable' poor which became apparent to certain groups and individuals at this time: a paucity of medical provision, inadequacies in domiciliary care and a lack of spiritual ministration. As religious and philanthropic institutions, the homes were very much influenced by wider developments in these areas, particularly moral attitudes towards the poor and
spirit religion medicine institutional care die focus_upon emergence_new phenomenon institutional provision respectable poor medically dying first_time group identify special medical nursing spiritual need could provide trained staff institutional medium comparative_study institution found london god luke house study aim_firstly home die set period secondly explore foundation development thirdly situate_within broad_context britain argues home essentially response perceive deficiency care die respectable poor become_apparent certain group_individual time paucity medical provision inadequacy care lack spiritual religious philanthropic institution home much influence wide development area particularly moral attitude_towards poor