23 Background: Survey studies have determined the prevalence of dissatisfaction among survivor caregivers related to end of life care. Toward improvement in care at EOL, we hypothesized that novel themes of distress would be identified in narratives of the “last day” from the recently bereaved. Methods: Extended narrative accounts of patients’ last day of life were collected from adult, English-speaking, caregivers (n=5) present at the death of a cancer patient. Interviews (45-120 minutes) featured open-ended questions prompting the subject to share an account of the last day, their care and coping experience. Interviews were conducted and transcribed by the author and analyzed thematically. Results: A theme of distressed communication with health care providers [HCP] could be identified in narrative segments in all 5 interviews, linked to transitions such as changes in treatment or clinical status. Narrative fragments exemplary of distress arising from communication are presented. I. A pain crisis so severe “she asked God to take her.” “I am ready to call the nurse practitioner…and she wouldn’t allow it... She doesn’t want to be a burden.” II. “I said, I don’t want you telling him directly anything. I want you to tell me first so we can go in together and tell him…the right way” including an option to “spend time together.” Soon after, the physician “came rushing into the room and as if we’d never had the conversation…, OK, we’re going to take you to the ICU.” III. “I had asked the nurse…to make sure that she had her clothes on when the funeral parlor came.” It was “important to me for her dignity.” The nurse responded: “they just cut the clothes off anyhow.” IV. “Now you’re going to pull chemo out of your hat? Look at him!...He doesn’t want to leave us but he’s ready to go.” “After we said no to chemo, [his doctor] never came near S again.” Conclusions: This pilot study of last day narratives obtained from surviving caregivers points toward a high prevalence of distress content relating to impaired communication with HCP with consequences including uncontrolled pain, conflict, perceived loss of dignity and abandonment. These data indicate the need for larger-scale studies focused on the content and style of bidirectional communication at the EOL.