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Death without God: Nonreligious Perspectives on End-of-Life Care

Helen Dempsey-Henofer

Nonreligious people are underrepresented in the literature guiding end-of-life care. Moreover, much of what is written about nonreligious patients is written from a religious perspective. To address this deficit, the author conducted descriptive research by surveying online social media group participants using a quantitative questionnaire and qualitative feedback (N=263). Participants responded from closed social media groups for nonreligious people. Survey questions and responses offer insight into a nonreligious end-of-life dyad on the interrelated perceptions and experiences of nonreligious people regarding end-of-life healthcare. Participants responded to questions that assessed individual worldview description, openness to hospice services, feelings regarding chaplain services, expectations regarding fear of death, feelings on religious phrases, experiences of marginalization associated with their nonreligious affiliation, and perspectives regarding healthcare providers’ competency providing care for nonreligious people. Though not comprehensive, the survey results indicate common experiences and perspectives, which can in- form end-of-life practitioners providing care to this population. Through qualitative feedback, survey participants shared their experiences in healthcare settings and expressed a desire for healthcare professionals to be more aware of the needs of nonreligious people. Both the quantitative responses and qualitative feedback of participants is used to inform practice implications and recommendations made for caring for the whole nonreligious person.