Today, 10th October 2015, is World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (#WHPCDay15). This year’s theme, “Hidden Lives, Hidden Patients”, puts the focus on people with palliative care needs who may struggle with access to palliative care, “including children, LGBT individuals, HIV prisoners, soldiers and those living in rural settings.” Below are some recent articles from around the web, drawing attention to some of the “hidden lives” in palliative care.

Commissioned by Singapore’s Lien Foundation and published in The Economist, the 2015 Quality of Death (QOD) Index ranks QOD in countries around the world. Australia & New Zealand are second & third, respectively. The QOD Index has received widespread media coverage including articles in Victoria’s The Age, The Telegraph (UK), The Washington Post, EAPC Blog, Pallium India (“Frightening!”), Today Singapore, Wall Street Journal, Portugal, Korea, Canada and more.

From Australia: “Gay-friendly aged care: A work in progress” (Australian Ageing Agenda)

House calls to the homeless: A doctor treats Boston’s most isolated patients (NPR)

Palliative care for those affected by war, persecution or natural disasters (ehospice)

Palliation as a response to armed conflict (End of Life Studies)

When my patient died alone, I felt hollow. But to whom did I owe an explanation? (Dr Ranjana Srivastava in the Guardian Australia)

Invisible lives, invisible deaths: Tanith Muller on the hidden burden of Parkinson’s (End of Life Studies)

Why are elderly Australians taking their own lives? (ABC Online). On the same topic, Adele Horin asks, Why are older men committing suicide? (Coming of Age) Please note, this year World Hospice and Palliative Care Day coincides with World Mental Health Day.

If you’re contemplating suicide, please contact Lifeline on 131114 in Australia or 0800 543 354 in New Zealand or online.

Please check out our “Weekend Reads” archives for links to articles about more “hidden lives” in palliative care, and please share any reading selections in the comments below. What are you doing for World Hospice and Palliative Care Day?