title: Family Perceptions of End-of-Life Care in long-term care facilities.
abstract: The study examined the utility of the Family Perception of Care Scale (FPCS), which consists of four subscales: resident care, family support, communication, and rooming. This instrument was developed for the purposes of this study. Overall, family members were satisfied with end-of-life care. Satisfaction did not have a statistically significant relationship to family and resident characteristics. Survey questions with the highest number of low satisfaction ratings included staffing levels, updating families and involving them in care planning, and decision making. Family members considered pain control an important priority, followed by comfort care that included caring for a family member with dignity and sensitivity. Family members also valued it when staff were able to inform them that the death of their family member was near. Place of death was significantly associated with satisfaction, family members being more satisfied with end-of-life care when their family member died in the LTC facility as opposed to in hospital.
authors.affiliation: St Joseph's Health System Research Network, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Julie Uma
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Vohra
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brazil
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abelson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D004645:Empathy; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000592:standards; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities / Q000592:standards*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*