Abstract · In Hungary, the social and health care system has difficulty in providing adequate care to homeless persons who have requested hospital care for a chronic illness. They are no longer able to provide them with support appropriate to their condition in health care facilities, as they would need complex rehabilitation. However, patients living in convalescent homes, which are located in the social and health care sector of the homeless care system, need more than just physical help. For clients in poor health, one of the most important activities of a mental health care professional is to support loss processing.

Abstract · This essay poses several fundamental questions about death, but does not attempt to answer them exhaustively, only to refer to the differences and complexities of the phenomenon; starting from an interpretation of death regarding existential philosophy (inter alia Heideggerian point of view) through mentioning the main characteristics of metaphysics, to discussing the specificity of the philosophies of life and stoics. We can ascertain that - despite the fundamental differences between them - thinking of death has always been fundamentally related to the question of existence. Thus, it can evolve and change along our relationship to life, in the philosophical definition of the self, the self-reflection, and even in our relation to the body. Therefore, the essay primarily discusses how one may relate to one's own death, and how the body or its condition affects our relationship to death.

Abstract · The article describes the unique view of the Federation of Palliative Care Flanders on the relation between palliative care and euthanasia, labelled as the Belgian model of integral palliative care. According to this model, palliative care and euthanasia are not oppositional alternatives. Euthanasia is interpreted as one of the options embedded in palliative care, available to a patient as an excercise of his autonomy under certain conditions. We, too, briefly describe the historic development of this Belgian model. As a closure, a short evaluation of the model is presented. The article highlights the pluralisation of the concept of palliative care, thus the need to reflect upon the philosophical foundations of palliative care.

Abstract · Losing a close relative involves demanding grief work for adults, too, as numerous studies and books demonstrate it. On the other hand, our knowledge is not so broad about children’s grief and how their elaboration of loss can be best supported. In our article we aim to give an overview of the activities of the grief support groups for children, which have been present in Hungary for 5 years now, about their foundation, about the results of the previous years and about their experiences. So far the number of the participants in our groups have been about 130 people, 80 half-orphan children (having lost one parent) and their families. Under the supervision of the Napfogyatkozás Association trainings for children’s grief support group leaders have been started, and together with this the ‘The Flower of Hope’ Programme is becoming more and more widely known nationwide. Our objective is that trained professionals may be present in all regions of Hungary who can help the children suffering from loss. At the same time, the community of people who have undergone the same experience and have participated in the activities of support groups is growing continuously.