- Deborah Parker1,
- Jenny van der Steen1,
- Karen Clifton1
- University of Queensland1
2012
ExcerptBackground
The palliative care needs of residents and their families in LTC with dementia have been recognised as important. LTC care in Australia and the Netherlands is similar in regard to nursing care but not medical care.
Method
This paper reports on bereaved family outcomes from two studies of palliative care for people with dementia in LTC using questions from the Toolkit After Death Bereaved Family Interview. The Australian data is a retrospective study of 47 residents in 9 LTC homes and the Netherlands data is a retrospective study of 66 residents in 2 LTC homes.
Results
Demographic characteristics of the residents such as age at admission (Australia 82.7 years vs Netherlands 82), age at death (85.7vs 84.6), gender (55.3%vs 70% female), length of stay (2.6 vs2.9 years) and place of death (97% in LTC) were similar.
Differences occurred between the two countries in regard to who provided the information to the bereaved carer as their relative was dying. In Australia, there were a large number of carers (63.8%) that did not receive any information from a doctor in the last week of life compared to those in the Netherlands (16%). However, relatives in both countries reported they had received information on what to expect while their relative was dying ( 60.9% Australia;58% Netherlands). Similar results were found for questions concerning their relative always being treated with respect (88.4% vs 83%) or kindness (80.9% vs 83%), discussion about spiritual beliefs (38.3% vs 31%) and who to turn to for help if they were distressed (34.1% vs 25%)
Conclusion
This study indicates that bereaved family member demographics and experiences of care for someone dying in LTC with dementia are similar between Australia and the Netherlands. The main difference appears in regard to who provides information regarding end of life care