New Model of Home Hospice Care—Social Innovation in Rural Areas: Facing Depopulation and a Services Crisis in Poland

This article examines the implementation of a social innovation designed to improve access to end‐of‐life care in depopulating rural areas of Eastern Poland. The initiative tested an integrated model of home‐based support for chronically and terminally ill individuals, combining an interdisciplinary home hospice care team, locally embedded support networks, and a newly introduced role: the Dependent Care Coordinator (KOOZ). The study draws on multimethod field research conducted over several years, including staff surveys, semistructured interviews, sociometric analysis, and secondary data from patient needs assessments. Findings show that the model substantially expanded the scope and flexibility of home hospice services, strengthened coordination between health and social care actors, and reduced the burden on medical staff through the involvement of caregivers and the KOOZ. At the same time, the implementation revealed systemic barriers, including workforce shortages, institutional fragmentation, and cultural resistance to palliative and psychological support. The article contributes to the evidence base on integrated rural care, demonstrating both the potential of community‐based social innovation and the structural constraints that limit its scalability and long‐term sustainability.