Dying in long-term care facilities: support needs of other residents, relatives, and staff.
This paper explores the support needs of residents, relatives, and care staff when someone dies in a facility for older people. The authors draw on the qualitative findings from an English study, which investigated the case for applying the principles and practices of palliative care to people dying in these settings. Relatives need practical as well as emotional support, which is often not met adequately by nursing home staff. Managers varied in the extent to which they recognized other residents' emotional needs or supported relatives. Care staff members acknowledged needing practical and emotional support, but management was often unable to deliver it. Lack of training in recognizing and addressing needs in addition to financial and staffing constraints were factors that prevented managers from providing support for staff, residents, and relatives.
Katz
J S
JS
School of Health and Social Welfare, Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom.
Sidell
M
M
Komaromy
C
C
D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004739:England; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006270:Health Facility Administrators / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D016134:Organizational Policy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*