Navigating toward acceptance of death: Home-dwelling patients in the palliative phase

As global life expectancy increases, the need for palliative care grows. Recognizing the deeply personal and diverse nature of individuals' end-of-life experiences, palliative care for home-dwelling patients requires a flexible and person-centered approach. This study explores the complex process of death acceptance as experienced by patients receiving palliative care at home.

Utilizing a qualitative, explorative, and descriptive design grounded in hermeneutic methodology, this study incorporates a secondary analysis of data derived from 13 in-depth interviews with home-dwelling patients in the palliative phase.

The findings reveal that patients consider relationships with family and healthcare professionals crucial in their journey toward accepting death. While strong, supportive relationships provided peace and meaningfulness, they could also introduce emotional complexity. Trust, honesty, and supportive care were fundamental for patients to find meaning and maintain quality of life during this challenging process. Staying in familiar environments, particularly at home, increased patients' likelihood of accepting their mortality. Participants noted that achieving peace and reconciling with death required balancing hope for life with acceptance of death.

This study highlights the complex process of death acceptance as experienced by patients receiving palliative care at home. Healthcare professionals can provide vital support by facilitating open conversations about fears and preferences related to death. Further research is needed to explore how end-of-life care can best support this intricate process.