title: Palliative care philosophy in care homes: lessons from New Zealand.
abstract: Increasing numbers of people are dying in care homes yet little is known about the nature and quality of their deaths. The limited research available suggests that there is a need to promote a philosophy of palliative care that is not confined to the terminal phase of life. However, adopting such an approach appears to be inhibited by a lack of understanding, education and training, as well as continuing reluctance to discuss issues of death and dying in an open and honest way. Drawing on data from a large convenience sample of caregivers in New Zealand, this article argues for a reappraisal of the way in which care homes view death and dying and advocates the more widespread adoption of a palliative care philosophy.
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010166:Palliative Care
keywords: Death and Euthanasia; Empirical Approach; Professional Patient Relationship