Staff and family relationships in end-of-life nursing home care

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Gjerberg ◽  
Reidun Førde ◽  
Arild Bjørndal
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Family Relationships ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Nursing Home Care ◽  
Terminal Phase ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Preferences For Care

This article examines the involvement of residents and their relatives in end-of-life decisions and care in Norwegian nursing homes. It also explores challenges in these staff—family relationships. The article is based on a nationwide survey examining Norwegian nursing homes’ end-of-life care at ward level. Only a minority of the participant Norwegian nursing home wards ‘usually’ explore residents’ preferences for care and treatment at the end of their life, and few have written procedures on the involvement of family caregivers when their relative is in the terminal phase. According to the respondents, most staff seem to comfort relatives well. However, several challenges were described. The study revealed a need for better procedures in the involvement of residents and relatives in nursing home end-of-life care. The findings emphasize a need to strengthen both the involvement of nursing home physicians and staff communication skills.

scholarly journals Aging and Advanced Dementia Matters: End-of-Life Care in Nursing Homes

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 520-521
Author(s):  
Ruth Lopez ◽  
Ellen McCarthy ◽  
Meghan Hendricksen ◽  
Susan McLennon ◽  
Anita Rogers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Racial Differences ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Feeding Tube ◽  
Nursing Home Care ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Advanced Dementia ◽  
Southeastern Us ◽  
Intensity Of Care

Abstract Over 5 million Americans have dementia, and the majority will die in nursing home (NHs). While comfort is the main goal of care for most NH residents with advanced dementia, they commonly receive burdensome and costly interventions such as hospital transfers and feeding tubes that are of little clinical benefit. Despite 20 years of research and numerous experts and associations advocating a palliative approach to care, quantitative studies continue to demonstrate striking and persistent regional, facility, and racial differences, including: greater intensity care among African American versus White residents; greater intensity of care in the Southeastern US; and wide variation in care among NHs in the same region of the country. The reasons for these differences are poorly understood. Assessment of Disparities and Variation for Alzheimer’s disease in Nursing home Care at End of life (ADVANCE) is a 3-year, NIA funded qualitative study of 16 NHs in 4 regions of the country which aims to explain regional and racial factors influencing feeding tube and hospital transfer rates. The purpose of this presentation is to present the methodology established in this study and to highlight factors challenging and enabling implementation of the study protocol. To date, data have been collected in 11 NHs, and include 135 staff interviews, 40 proxy interviews, and nearly 800 hours of observation. These findings demonstrate that although challenging, large qualitative research is possible and holds promise as an effective method to illuminate complex processes influencing end-of-life care for NH residents with advanced dementia.

scholarly journals Nursing home staff’s perspective on end-of-life care of German nursing home residents: a cross-sectional survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anke Strautmann ◽  
Katharina Allers ◽  
Alexander Maximilian Fassmer ◽  
Falk Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Nursing Staff ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Hospital Death ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Nursing homes are becoming more important for end-of-life care. Within the industrialised world, Germany is among the countries with the most end-of-life hospitalizations in nursing home residents. To improve end-of-life care, investigation in the status quo is required. The objective was to gain a better understanding of the perspectives of nursing home staff on the current situation of end-of-life care in Germany. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted as a postal survey among a random sample of 1069 German nursing homes in 2019. The survey was primarily addressed to nursing staff management. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Staff was asked to rate different items regarding common practices and potential deficits of end-of-life care on a 5-point-Likert-scale. Estimations of the proportions of in-hospital deaths, residents with advance directives (AD), cases in which documented ADs were ignored, and most important measures for improvement of end-of-life care were requested. Results 486 (45.5%) questionnaires were returned, mostly by nursing staff managers (64.7%) and nursing home directors (29.9%). 64.4% of the respondents rated end-of-life care rather good, the remainder rated it as rather bad. The prevalence of in-hospital death was estimated by the respondents at 31.5% (SD: 19.9). Approximately a third suggested that residents receive hospital treatments too frequently. Respondents estimated that 45.9% (SD: 21.6) of the residents held ADs and that 28.4% (SD: 26.8) of available ADs are not being considered. Increased staffing, better qualification, closer involvement of general practitioners and better availability of palliative care concepts were the most important measures for improvement. Conclusions Together with higher staffing, better availability and integration of palliative care concepts may well improve end-of-life care. Prerequisite for stronger ties between nursing home and palliative care is high-quality education of those involved in end-of-life care.

Factors Influencing Models of End-of-Life Care in Nursing Homes: Results of a Survey of Nursing Home Administrators

2004 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 668-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen N. Rice ◽  
Eric A. Coleman ◽  
Ron Fish ◽  
Cari Levy ◽  
Jean S. Kutner
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Nursing Home Administrators ◽  
Factors Influencing

scholarly journals Do Palliative Care Teams in Nursing Homes Improve the Quality of End-of-Life Care for Nursing Home Residents?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Temkin-Greener Helena Temkin-Greener ◽  
Dana Mukamel ◽  
Susan Ladwig ◽  
Thomas , Caprio ◽  
Sally Norton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Palliative Care Teams

scholarly journals Dying in times of the coronavirus: An online survey among healthcare professionals about end-of-life care for patients dying with and without COVID-19 (the CO-LIVE study)

2021 ◽  
pp. 026921632110037
Author(s):  
Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen ◽  
H Roeline W Pasman ◽  
Ida J Korfage ◽  
Erica Witkamp ◽  
Masha Zee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Chronic Illness ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Life Care

Background: During the COVID-19 outbreak restricting measures may have affected the provision of good end-of-life care for patients with and without COVID-19. Aim: To describe characteristics of patients who died and the care they received, and to examine how patient characteristics, setting and visiting restrictions are related to provided care and evaluation of the dying process. Design: An open observational online survey among healthcare professionals about their experience of end-of-life care that was provided to a patient with or without COVID-19 who died between March and July 2020. Setting/participants: Healthcare professionals (nurses, physicians and others) in the Netherlands from all settings: home ( n = 163), hospital ( n = 249), nursing home ( n = 192), hospice ( n = 89) or elsewhere ( n = 68). Results: Of patients reported on, 56% had COVID-19. Among these patients, 358 (84.4%) also had a serious chronic illness. Having COVID-19 was negatively, and having a serious chronic illness was positively associated with healthcare staff’s favourable appreciation of end-of-life care. Often there had been visiting restrictions in the last 2 days of life (75.8%). This was negatively associated with appreciation of care at the end of life and the dying process. Finally, care at the end of life was less favourably appreciated in hospitals and especially nursing homes, and more favourably in home settings and especially hospices. Conclusions: Our study suggests that end-of-life care during the COVID-19 pandemic may be further optimised, especially in nursing homes and hospitals. Allowing at least some level of visits of relatives seems a key component.

scholarly journals End-of-Life Care in Nursing Homes: 2004 National Nursing Home Survey

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Bercovitz ◽  
Frederic Decker ◽  
Adrienne Jones ◽  
Robin E. Remsburg
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Home ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Life Care

scholarly journals Older persons’ thoughts about death and dying and their experiences of end-of-life care: a qualitative study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Tjernberg ◽  
Christina Bökberg
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Death And Dying ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Healthy Persons

Abstract Background: Few studies have focused on how older persons living in nursing homes perceive their last period of life. Furthermore, previous research on older persons’ perceptions of death and dying is limited. Hence, there is an urgent need to explore their experiences during their final period in life.Aim: To explore thoughts about death and dying and experiences of end-of-life care among older persons living in nursing homes.Methods: This study employed a qualitative approach including individual interviews with 36 older persons living in Swedish nursing homes. Questions related to quality of life; physical health; thoughts about death, dying, and the future; and experiences related to the living condition and environment were asked. The interview transcripts were analysed through content analysis. The study was approved by the Regional Ethics Review Board (reference number: 2015/4).Results: The analysis resulted in the identification of three main thematic categories: The unavoidable and unknown end of life, Thoughts on control and Living your last period of life at a nursing home. The older persons did not fear death itself but had some worries about dying. Spending the last stage of life at a nursing home contributed to different thoughts and feelings among the older persons. With a few exceptions, older persons characterized life at the nursing home as boring and felt they were surrounded by people who did not belong there.Conclusions: This study indicates a need for older persons to talk about death, dying and end-life issues. Furthermore, this study highlighted that the co-residence of cognitively healthy persons and persons with dementia in the same ward adversely affected cognitively healthy persons. This situation resulted in there being not enough time to both handle the care needs of persons with dementia and have the conversations that cognitively healthy persons desired, such as conversations about thoughts about existence, that could have improved their quality of life.Trial registration: NCT02708498 Date of registration 16 February 2016.

scholarly journals NUrsing Homes End of Life care Program (NUHELP): developing a complex intervention

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilio Mota-Romero ◽  
Ana Alejandra Esteban-Burgos ◽  
Daniel Puente-Fernández ◽  
María Paz García-Caro ◽  
Cesar Hueso-Montoro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Complex Intervention ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Life Care

Abstract Background Nursing homes are likely to become increasingly important as end-of-life care facilities. Previous studies indicate that individuals residing in these facilities have a high prevalence of end-of-life symptoms and a significant need for palliative care. The aim of this study was to develop an end-of-life care program for nursing homes in Spain based on previous models yet adapted to the specific context and the needs of staff in nursing homes in the country. Methods A descriptive study of a complex intervention procedure was developed. The study consisted of three phases. The first phase was a prospective study assessing self-efficacy in palliative care (using the SEPC scale) and attitudes towards end-of-life care (using the FATCOD-B scale) among nursing home staff before and after the completion of a basic palliative care training program. In the second phase, objectives were selected using the Delphi consensus technique, where nursing home and primary care professionals assessed the relevance, feasibility, and level of attainment of 42 quality standards. In phase 3, interventions were selected for these objectives through two focus group sessions involving nursing home, primary care, and palliative care professionals. Results As a result of the training, an improvement in self-efficacy and attitudes towards end-of-life care was observed. In phase 2, 14 standards were selected and grouped into 5 objectives: to conduct a comprehensive assessment and develop a personalized care plan adapted to the palliative needs detected; to provide information in a clear and accessible way; to request and record advance care directives; to provide early care with respect to loss and grief; to refer patients to a specialized palliative care unit if appropriate, depending on the complexity of the palliative care required. Based on these objectives, the participants in the focus group sessions designed the 22 interventions that make up the program. Conclusions The objectives and interventions of the NUHELP program constitute an end-of-life care program which can be implemented in nursing homes to improve the quality of end-of-life care in these facilities by modifying their clinical practice, organization, and relationship with the health system as well as serving as an example of an effective health intervention program.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document