Centre for Policy on Ageing



What is wrong with end-of-life care? — opinions of bereaved family members
Author(s)	Laura C Hanson, Marion Danis, Joanne Garrett
Journal title	Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, vol 45, no 11, November 1997
Pages	pp 1339-1344
Keywords	Terminal care ; Nursing homes ; The Family ; Attitude.
Annotation	It is generally agreed that terminal care could be improved, however, there are varied perspectives on how this should be done. In this study, 461 recently bereaved family members were interviewed about the care received by their older relatives who died from chronic diseases. In particular, their perceptions of treatment decisions, treatment intensity and symptom relief, as well as their priorities to improve terminal care were sought. Findings showed that they were generally satisfied with life-sustaining treatment decisions. Perceptions of hospice care were mainly positive, whereas terminal care provided by nursing homes received the smallest proportion of positive comments. Their main concerns were physicians' poor communication skills and the limited time and attention they give to dying patients, and pain control.
Accession Number	CPA-971209404 A
Classmark	LV: LHB: SJ: DP
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.