Quality end-of-life care in long-term care facilities: service providers' perspective.
The goal of this project was to provide guidance on what constitutes quality end-of-life care in long-term care (LTC) facilities. Seventy-nine direct care providers from six LTC facilities participated in 12 focus groups. The focus group discussions examined what made the difference between a "good" death and a "bad" death, and what changes in LTC would improve the care of dying residents. Analyses of the focus group data revealed six themes that contribute to quality end-of-life care in LTC facilities: responding to resident needs, creating a homelike environment, supports for families, providing quality care processes, recognizing death as a significant event, and having sufficient institutional resources. These findings challenge policy makers and providers to consider how to normalize life and death in LTC facilities.
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University and St. Joseph's Health System Research Network, Hamilton, Canada.
Kevin
K
Brazil
Carrie
C
McAiney
Michelle
M
Caron-O'Brien
Mary Lou
ML
Kelley
Paul
P
O'Krafka
Cathy
C
Sturdy-Smith
D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017144:Focus Groups; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D009864:Ontario; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012944:Social Support; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*