Quality end-of-life care in long term care facilities: Service providers’ perspective
Brazil, K., St. Joseph’s Health System Research Network, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, McAiney, C., McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada, O’Brien, M., St. Joseph’s Health System Research Network, Hamilton, Canada, Kelly, M, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Canada, O’Krafka, P., St. Joseph’s Villa, Dundas, Canada |
The goal of this project is to provide guidance on what constitutes quality end of life care in long term care (LTC) facilities. Seventy-nine staff members, 37 health care aides and 42 allied health professionals from six LTC facilities participated in 12 focus groups. The focus group discussion examined what made the difference between a ‘‘good’’ and a ‘‘bad’’ death, and what changes in LTC would improve the care of dying residents. Analyses of the focus groups data revealed six categories that contribute to the quality of dying in LTC facilities: responding to resident needs, creating a homelike environment, supports for families, providing quality of 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.
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