title: Responding to the death of a resident in aged care facilities: perspectives of staff and residents.
abstract: A qualitative study using individual semistructured interviews was undertaken to explore the perceptions and experiences of 23 aged care residents with mild dementia concerning the deaths of coresidents. The views of 25 facility staff members were also explored. The study was based in 3 aged residential facilities in Victoria, Australia. Interview data indicated that residents and staff had differing views. Residents reported that the impact of the death of a coresident was much less than staff members thought. Residents generally wanted to be told about the death of someone they knew and considered attempts to hide the death and the removal of the body both unnecessary and disrespectful. Both groups agreed that the celebration of the life of a resident was important, although they differed in their preferences for the way this is done. These findings have implications for staff education and practice.
authors.affiliation: Palliative Care Research Unit, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, P.O. Box 527, Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia. Electronic address: heather.tan@acu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Heather M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Palliative Care Nursing, Monash University, Australia.
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Palliative Care Research Unit, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, P.O. Box 527, Frankston, Victoria 3199, Australia.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Australia; Rehabilitation and Aged Services at Southern Health, Melbourne, Australia; Monash Ageing Research Centre (MONARC), Australia.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Workman
authors.affiliation: Old Age Psychiatry, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D000078329:Workforce