ABSTRACT
The global Compassionate Communities (CC) movement, inspired by Professor Allan Kellehear’s health promotion framework, redefines the end-of-life (EoL) experience as a collective social responsibility rather than a clinical event. By decentralizing care from medical institutions to civic life, this approach integrates prevention and harm reduction into the fabric of schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. This chapter explores the implementation of the CC model in Taipei, specifically within the Shilin Old Street pilot site, where municipal policy and grassroots engagement converge to facilitate aging-in-place. Central to this transition is the application of Madeleine Leininger’s Culture Care Theory, which ensures that EoL support remains culturally congruent. In the context of Taiwan’s traditional taboos regarding death, this dual framework transforms EoL dialogue into a form of “life wisdom.” Through culturally resonant interventions like temple gatherings and life story cafés, the Taipei model demonstrates a sustainable, inclusive synthesis of global health strategy and local cultural heritage.
