End of life care in UK care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study
Abstract Purpose To report the experiences of End of Life (EoL) care in UK care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods UK care home staff and family carers of residents in care home took part in remote, semi-structured interviews from October to November 2020, with 20 participants followed-up i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Palliative Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-022-00979-4 |
| _version_ | 1818161718881157120 |
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| author | Kerry Hanna Jacqueline Cannon Mark Gabbay Paul Marlow Stephen Mason Manoj Rajagopal Justine Shenton Hilary Tetlow Clarissa Giebel |
| author_facet | Kerry Hanna Jacqueline Cannon Mark Gabbay Paul Marlow Stephen Mason Manoj Rajagopal Justine Shenton Hilary Tetlow Clarissa Giebel |
| author_sort | Kerry Hanna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Purpose To report the experiences of End of Life (EoL) care in UK care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods UK care home staff and family carers of residents in care home took part in remote, semi-structured interviews from October to November 2020, with 20 participants followed-up in March 2021. Interviews were conducted via telephone or online platforms and qualitatively analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results Forty-two participants (26 family carers and 16 care home staff) were included in a wider qualitative study exploring the impact on dementia care homes during the pandemic. Of these, 11 family carers and 9 care home staff participated in a follow-up interview. Following descriptive thematic analysis, three central themes concerning EoL care during the pandemic specifically, were conceptualised and redefined through research team discussions: 1) Wasting or losing time; 2) Maintaining control, plans and routine; and 3) Coping with loss and lack of support. Lack of suitable, meaningful visits with people with dementia in care homes resulted in negative feelings of guilt and abandonment with both family carers and care home staff. Where families experienced positive EoL visits, these appeared to breach public health restrictions at that time. Conclusion It is recommended that care homes receive clear guidance from the government offering equitable contact with relatives at EoL to all family members, to support their grieving and avoid subsequent negative impacts to emotional wellbeing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:22:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cfa120b377594a7b86bf020bc4b0664b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-684X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:22:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Palliative Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-cfa120b377594a7b86bf020bc4b0664b2022-12-22T00:58:50ZengBMCBMC Palliative Care1472-684X2022-06-0121111110.1186/s12904-022-00979-4End of life care in UK care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative studyKerry Hanna0Jacqueline Cannon1Mark Gabbay2Paul Marlow3Stephen Mason4Manoj Rajagopal5Justine Shenton6Hilary Tetlow7Clarissa Giebel8School of Health Sciences, University of LiverpoolLewy Body SocietyDepartment of Primary Care & Mental Health, University of LiverpoolNIHR ARC NWCInstitute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of LiverpoolLancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation TrustSefton AdvocacySURF LiverpoolDepartment of Primary Care & Mental Health, University of LiverpoolAbstract Purpose To report the experiences of End of Life (EoL) care in UK care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods UK care home staff and family carers of residents in care home took part in remote, semi-structured interviews from October to November 2020, with 20 participants followed-up in March 2021. Interviews were conducted via telephone or online platforms and qualitatively analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results Forty-two participants (26 family carers and 16 care home staff) were included in a wider qualitative study exploring the impact on dementia care homes during the pandemic. Of these, 11 family carers and 9 care home staff participated in a follow-up interview. Following descriptive thematic analysis, three central themes concerning EoL care during the pandemic specifically, were conceptualised and redefined through research team discussions: 1) Wasting or losing time; 2) Maintaining control, plans and routine; and 3) Coping with loss and lack of support. Lack of suitable, meaningful visits with people with dementia in care homes resulted in negative feelings of guilt and abandonment with both family carers and care home staff. Where families experienced positive EoL visits, these appeared to breach public health restrictions at that time. Conclusion It is recommended that care homes receive clear guidance from the government offering equitable contact with relatives at EoL to all family members, to support their grieving and avoid subsequent negative impacts to emotional wellbeing.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-022-00979-4Care sectorCOVID-19 pandemicDementiaOlder adults |
| spellingShingle | Kerry Hanna Jacqueline Cannon Mark Gabbay Paul Marlow Stephen Mason Manoj Rajagopal Justine Shenton Hilary Tetlow Clarissa Giebel End of life care in UK care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study BMC Palliative Care Care sector COVID-19 pandemic Dementia Older adults |
| title | End of life care in UK care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study |
| title_full | End of life care in UK care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | End of life care in UK care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | End of life care in UK care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study |
| title_short | End of life care in UK care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | end of life care in uk care homes during the covid 19 pandemic a qualitative study |
| topic | Care sector COVID-19 pandemic Dementia Older adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-022-00979-4 |
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