Home is where I want to die: Kelly's journey.
The definition of a 'good death' is centred on being peaceful, dignified and pain free. The preferred place of death has also been highlighted as an important concept in defining a good death (Cox, Almack, Pollack, & Seymour, 2011). Seventy percent of Australians express the desire to spend their last days at home. In reality only 16% of people die at home (Preferred Place of Death, 2008). With 10% of Australians dying in residential aged care facilities and approximately 20% in hospices, the rest die in hospitals (Parish et al., 2006). Family support and the family's care giving ability play a major role in determining whether a person is able to die at home. Other factors include the availability of medical and nursing care. This story has been written with the consent of Kelly's husband. All efforts have been made to maintain privacy and confidentiality: Pseudonyms have been used.
Calvary Mater Newcastle Department of Palliative Care, Hunter Region Mail Centre, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Ludmilla
L
Sneesby
D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*