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The relationship between caregivers’ perceptions of end-of-life care in long-term care and a good resident death

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2020

Eunyoung Lee ,
Tamara Sussman Open the ORCID record for Tamara Sussman [Opens in a new window] ,
Sharon Kaasalainen ,
Pamela Durepos ,
Lynn McCleary ,
Abigail Wickson-Griffiths  and
Rennie Bimman
Eunyoung Lee
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
Tamara Sussman*
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
Sharon Kaasalainen
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Pamela Durepos
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
Lynn McCleary
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
Abigail Wickson-Griffiths
Affiliation:
Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada
Rennie Bimman
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
*
Author for correspondence: Tamara Sussman, McGill University, School of Social Work, 3506 University St., Rm 305, Wilson Hall, Montreal, QC, CanadaH3A 2A7. E-mail: tamara.sussman@mcgill.ca
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Abstract

Objective

Quality end-of-life (EOL) care is critical for dying residents and their family/friend caregivers. While best practices to support resident comfort at EOL in long-term care (LTC) homes are emerging, research rarely explores if and how the type of care received at EOL may contribute to caregivers’ perceptions of a good death. To address this gap, this study explored how care practices at EOL contributed to caregivers’ perceptions of a good resident death.

Method

This study used a retrospective cross-sectional survey design. Seventy-eight participants whose relative or friend died in one of five LTC homes in Canada completed self-administered questionnaires on their perceptions of EOL care and perceptions of a good resident death.

Results

Overall, caregivers reported positive experiences with EOL care and perceived residents to have died a good death. However, communication regarding what to expect in the final days of life and attention to spiritual issues were often missing components of care. Further, when explored alongside direct resident care, family support, and rooming conditions, staff communication was the only aspect of EOL care significantly associated with caregivers’ perceptions of a good resident death.

Significance of results

The findings of this study suggest that the critical role staff in LTC play in supporting caregivers’ perceptions of a good resident death. By keeping caregivers informed about expectations at the very end of life, staff can enhance caregivers’ perceptions of a good resident death. Further, by addressing spiritual issues staff may improve caregivers’ perceptions that residents were at peace when they died.

Keywords

CaregiversCommunicationEnd-of-life careLong-term care homes
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 18 , Issue 6 , December 2020 , pp. 683 - 690
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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