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.
Brazil
Kevin
K
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University and St. Joseph's Health System Research Network, Hamilton, Canada.
McAiney
Carrie
C
Caron-O'Brien
Michelle
M
Kelley
Mary Lou
ML
O'Krafka
Paul
P
Sturdy-Smith
Cathy
C
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*