... important to people at the end of their life were having pain and other symptoms managed effectively, being surrounded by loved ones and being treated with dignity; and more GPs are having conversations with people about their end of life care wishes but 25 per cent still say they have never initiated such a conversation.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report is a compilation of key findings and information on end of life care that was produced by NEoLCIN and its partners during 2014. It shows that there is a growing understanding within the health sector of what is important to people at the end of life. Key findings from the report include: the proportion of people dying at home or in care homes continues to increase; patients with an Electronic Palliative Care Co-ordination System (EPaCCS) record and those receiving palliative care services such as hospice at home, Gold Standards Framework or Macmillan services are more likely to die in the place of their preference; two in five people with dementia die in hospital, indicating that the trend towards increasing hospital deaths for people living with dementia has reversed; factors most important to people at the end of their life were having pain and other symptoms managed effectively, being surrounded by loved ones and being treated with dignity; and more GPs are having conversations with people about their end of life care wishes but 25 per cent still say they have never initiated such a conversation.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
end of life care, palliative care, dementia, dignity, dying;
Using 12 cases from different health care settings this report illustrates some of the main themes that the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman come across when investigating complaints in end of life care. Key themes identified are: not recognising that people are dying, and not responding to their needs; poor symptom control; poor communication; inadequate out-of-hours services; poor care planning; and delays in diagnosis and referrals for treatment. The report supports several of the findings from the House of Commons Health Select Committee report on End of Life Care, in particular the need for more access to palliative care services; improved resources for support in the community; and better leadership. It calls for the Ambitions for End of Life Care Partnership to use the findings to improve standards and quality of end of life care in England.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Using 12 cases from different health care settings this report illustrates some of the main themes that the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman come across when investigating complaints in end of life care. Key themes identified are: not recognising that people are dying, and not responding to their needs; poor symptom control; poor communication; inadequate out-of-hours services; poor care planning; and delays in diagnosis and referrals for treatment. The report supports several of the findings from the House of Commons Health Select Committee report on End of Life Care, in particular the need for more access to palliative care services; improved resources for support in the community; and better leadership. It calls for the Ambitions for End of Life Care Partnership to use the findings to improve standards and quality of end of life care in England.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
end of life care, complaints, dignity, dying, case studies, health care, palliative care;
... and supporting them to do so; ensuring, where relevant, that families are informed about the need for post mortem examination and given information about tissue retention and disposal methods; preparing the deceased for transfer to the mortuary or the funeral directors premises; ensuring the privacy, dignity and respect of the deceased is maintained at all times; facilitating people’s wishes for organ
(Edited publisher abstract)
This guidance aims to help ensure that a person who has died is cared for and that there is well co-ordinated support which respects the wishes of the deceased and their families. The document is aimed at the different professionals involved in care and support for people just before and after death, including: nurses, doctors, mortuary staff, ambulance staff, pathologists and funeral directors. The guidance covers many different aspects of care after death for adults including: respecting the religious or cultural wishes of the deceased and their family where possible and ensuring legal obligations are met; ensuring timely verification of death; preparing the deceased for viewing, where appropriate, and supporting the family; offering the family present the opportunity to participate in the process and supporting them to do so; ensuring, where relevant, that families are informed about the need for post mortem examination and given information about tissue retention and disposal methods; preparing the deceased for transfer to the mortuary or the funeral directors premises; ensuring the privacy, dignity and respect of the deceased is maintained at all times; facilitating people’s wishes for organ donation; and returning the deceased’s property.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
death, end of life care, dying, dignity, standards, good practice;
Background: The empirical Dignity Model has profoundly influenced the provision of palliative care for older terminally ill patients in the West, as it provides practical guidance and intervention strategies for promoting dignity and reducing distress at the end-of-life.
Objective: To examine the concept of ‘living and dying with dignity’ in the Chinese context, and explore the generalisability of the Dignity Model to older terminal patients in Hong Kong. Methods: using qualitative interviews, the concept of dignity was explored among 16 older Chinese palliative care patients with terminal cancer. Framework analysis with both deductive and inductive methods was employed.
Results: The three major categories of themes of the Dignity Model were broadly supported. However, the subtheme of death anxiety was not supported, while two subthemes of generativity/legacy and resilience/fighting spirit manifested differently in the Chinese context. Furthermore, four new emergent themes have been identified. They include enduring pain, moral transcendence, spiritual surrender and transgenerational unity.
Conclusion: These findings highlight both a cultural and a familial dimension in the construct of dignity, underline
(Publisher abstract)
Background: The empirical Dignity Model has profoundly influenced the provision of palliative care for older terminally ill patients in the West, as it provides practical guidance and intervention strategies for promoting dignity and reducing distress at the end-of-life.
Objective: To examine the concept of ‘living and dying with dignity’ in the Chinese context, and explore the generalisability of the Dignity Model to older terminal patients in Hong Kong. Methods: using qualitative interviews, the concept of dignity was explored among 16 older Chinese palliative care patients with terminal cancer. Framework analysis with both deductive and inductive methods was employed.
Results: The three major categories of themes of the Dignity Model were broadly supported. However, the subtheme of death anxiety was not supported, while two subthemes of generativity/legacy and resilience/fighting spirit manifested differently in the Chinese context. Furthermore, four new emergent themes have been identified. They include enduring pain, moral transcendence, spiritual surrender and transgenerational unity.
Conclusion: These findings highlight both a cultural and a familial dimension in the construct of dignity, underline the paramount importance of cultural awareness and competence for working with ethnically diverse groups, and call for a culturally sensitive and family oriented approach to palliative care interventions with older Chinese terminal patients.
(Publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
dignity, older people, palliative care, dying, models, Chinese people, end of life care;
Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 12(3), October 2011, pp.141-151.
Publisher:
Emerald
... and “popular culture” to highlight the intensity of the dialogue. He believes that considering the perspectives of a variety of major belief systems assists in relating to and caring for the increasing diversity of older people and their carers. As the discourse around assisted dying, belief systems and dignity come more to the fore, staff in health and social care will need time to discuss what the crucial
This paper offers an overview of various views of spirituality in relation to dying and death. The author discusses the content and import of a conference held in partnership between Staffordshire University and The National Spirituality and Mental Health Forum on the importance of considering life in the context of human mortality, and the meaning and purpose of our lives. This was one of a series of conferences on the theme of health and multi-belief systems. The conference and its format, including case studies is placed within current debates concerning the meaning of life in the context of death, what might be beyond “the grave” and the issue of assisted dying. In the light of this the author brings into the paper not just philosophical writings but also examples from novels and “popular culture” to highlight the intensity of the dialogue. He believes that considering the perspectives of a variety of major belief systems assists in relating to and caring for the increasing diversity of older people and their carers. As the discourse around assisted dying, belief systems and dignity come more to the fore, staff in health and social care will need time to discuss what the crucial issues are for those they serve.
Subject terms:
multicultural approach, religions, spirituality, dignity, dying, end of life care, ethnicity, euthanasia;
This publication calls for significant changes to be made to end-of-life care. The Charter sets out 10 policy calls to improve end-of-life care, focusing on patient choice, control, and access to services. It says that a dignified death means: having choice about where we die, how we die and who is present; exercising control by planning for the end of life; and having access to expert information on the choices available for end-of-life care, access to high quality palliative care tailored to individual needs, and access to support for carers and family members. It considers the services that are required at diagnosis, to provide access to quality care, at the time of death, and for bereaved family members and loved ones after death.
This publication calls for significant changes to be made to end-of-life care. The Charter sets out 10 policy calls to improve end-of-life care, focusing on patient choice, control, and access to services. It says that a dignified death means: having choice about where we die, how we die and who is present; exercising control by planning for the end of life; and having access to expert information on the choices available for end-of-life care, access to high quality palliative care tailored to individual needs, and access to support for carers and family members. It considers the services that are required at diagnosis, to provide access to quality care, at the time of death, and for bereaved family members and loved ones after death.
Subject terms:
palliative care, quality assurance, terminal illness, access to services, bereavement, choice, death, dignity, dying, end of life care;