Abstract
Starting in the late 1970s, the incarcerated population in the United States increased in large part due to the use and abuse of drugs. At the same time, and also related to drug usage, inmates came into the system sicker and more of them began to die while in prison. These concerns came to the attention of the late Florence Wald, a founder of the hospice movement in this country. With determination, discipline, and collaboration, Florence spearheaded the founding of a prison hospice and palliative care program in Connecticut, keeping in mind both the need for creating a long lasting and sustainable program and to act as a model for other states. Since 2001, with the use of trained inmate hospice volunteers, the program has provided compassionate care for over 50 inmates at three correctional facilities in Connecticut.
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