End of Life in Care Homes: A Palliative Care Approach

In our society, the overwhelming majority of people who die are the elderly. They spend the majority of their final years at home, but usually die in hospitals or nursing homes surrounded by strangers. This book explores the possibilities for improving the care of older people dying in residential and nursing homes. It argues that there are aspects of palliative care that, given the right circumstances, are transferable to people dying in institutional settings.

"End of Life in Care Homes" describes what happens in nursing and residential homes when a resident is dying, how carers cope, and the practical, health and emotional problems that carers face on top of their day-to-day work. Based on research from a multi-professional group of well-known contributors, the book shoes how the situation can be improved.


Palliative care practitioners, general practitioners and Macmillan nurses who are involved in community nursing and nursing homes and other health care professionals who come into contact with dying patients in residential settings will find this book of great value. Geriatricians, policy makers, directors and administrators of residential and nursing homes should also find it a useful source of information.

Dr Jeanne Katz, Lecturer, School of Health and Social Welfare, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK r Sheila Peace, Senior Lecturer and Sub Dean (Research), chool of Health and Social Welfare, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK