Palliative care crises in the community: a survey

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Home Healthcare
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Increasingly aging populations and hospital resource limitations are shifting end-of-life care to home settings.
• This trend heightens the potential for palliative care crises within the community and home environment.
• Crises can stem from uncontrolled pain, hemorrhage, or agitation, placing immense strain on families and caregivers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the patterns and precipitating events of palliative care crises in the home.
• To understand current crisis management strategies and identify barriers to effective care.
• To assess the impact of crises on family units and healthcare providers, and determine needed resources.

Main Methods:

• An open-question survey was administered to community-based healthcare professionals.
• Participants included visiting registered nurses (RNs), home care case managers, and palliative outreach clinicians.
• The survey focused on crisis events, management, barriers, impact, and resource needs in palliative home care.

Main Results:

• Identified common triggers for palliative crises in the home setting.
• Highlighted significant challenges and barriers faced by healthcare providers during home-based crises.
• Documented the profound impact of crises on family units and the demands placed on caregivers.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced community awareness and support are essential for families experiencing palliative care crises at home.
• Future palliative care strategies must address the unique challenges of the home environment.
• Improved resources and training are needed for healthcare providers managing home-based end-of-life crises.