Abstract
BackgroundDying at home is the preference of many patients with life-limiting illness. This is often not achieved and a key factor is the availability of willing and able family carers.AimTo elicit family carers’ views about the community support that made death at home possible.Design and settingQualitative study in East Devon, North Lancashire, and Cumbria.MethodParticipants were bereaved family carers who had provided care at the end of life for patients dying at home. Semi-structured interviews were conducted 6–24 months after the death.ResultsFifty-nine bereaved family carers were interviewed (54% response rate; 69% female). Two-thirds of the patients died from cancer with median time of home care being 5 months and for non-cancer patients the median time for home care was 30 months. An overarching theme was of continuity of care that divided into personal, organisational, and informational continuity. Large numbers and changes in care staff diluted personal continuity and failure of the GPs to visit was viewed negatively. Family carers had low expectations of informational continuity, finding information often did not transfer between secondary and primary care and other care agencies. Organisational continuity when present provided comfort and reassurance, and a sense of control.ConclusionThe requirement for continuity in delivering complex end-of-life care has long been acknowledged. Family carers in this study suggested that minimising the number of carers involved in care, increasing or ensuring personal continuity, and maximising the informational and organisational aspects of care could lead to a more positive experience.
Highlights
Dying at home is viewed as important by patients with a reported preference of 50–60%.1 A recent Cochrane Review[2] demonstrated that for patients who wish to die at home the provision of home palliative care more than doubles the chances of dying at home
Carers in this study suggested that minimising the number of carers involved in care, increasing or ensuring personal continuity, and maximising the informational and organisational aspects of care could lead to a more positive experience
This study shows that continuity of community care provided by GPs, nursing staff, or formal carers is valued highly by family carers
Summary
Dying at home is viewed as important by patients with a reported preference of 50–60%.1 A recent Cochrane Review[2] demonstrated that for patients who wish to die at home the provision of home palliative care more than doubles the chances of dying at home. Dying at home is viewed as important by patients with a reported preference of 50–60%.1. Dying at home is the preference of many patients with life-limiting illness. This is often not achieved and a key factor is the availability of willing and able family carers
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