The Terminal Diner
The place everyone visits once.

Because death and end of life are often difficult and challenging topics of conversation for many Canadians, many people avoid the topic altogether until they are immediately faced with it. Research has shown that while people may have contacts with the health care system as they become sicker, they may not receive palliative care or other adequate supports; and, among the care they do receive, they often see an inconsistent mix of providers across settings, which causes distress and negatively impacts quality of life.

“The Terminal Diner” explores the end-of-life healthcare experience of people in Ontario. The participatory installation borrows characteristics of a diner and invites participants to complete menu “chits” detailing selections for their “orders” for their own desired end-of-life, capturing participants’ desired experiences surrounding death. Participants can also leave “reviews” of past experiences, capturing their lived experience of a loved one’s end-of-life care. 

The Terminal Diner is a collaboration with a research team lead by Dr. Sarina Isenberg, Bruyère Research Institute and Dr. Michelle Howard and team members Aria Wills, Shuaib Hafid, Nyanna Flynn, Aleisha Fernandes and Susan Zuktoynski as part of the research project: Continuity of care at the end of life: Describing patterns, experiences and outcomes and finding optimal ways to capture.

The installation shares the research team’s past research findings and our hope is that The Terminal Diner can build public awareness around a universal experience. The goal is to invite people to explore this topic in a way that is approachable and gives people a chance to think about the types of supports they would want, in a way that is grounded in a person's own hopes and past experiences with others. 

Learn more about Dr. Isenberg’s work here.