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The location of death can be a very complicated topic, especially when looking at the meanings associated with dying at home. In an exploration of end-of-life preferences in Canada, Funk and colleagues(2023) examined the nuanced complexity of meanings of dying at home among diverse community members. When considering the delicate social dynamics and the meaning attached to dying in specific locations, what is the ideal location of death?
A series of semi-structured virtual interviews were conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic with a group of 24 participants representing diverse community sectors, including palliative care professionals, volunteers, bereaved carers, and members of queer, rural and immigrant communities. Each participant was asked about their preferred location of death and elaborated on why they had these preferences concerning their respective client populations or community group.
These findings demonstrated that a strong connection exists between an individuals’ personal experience, the perceptions of institutional care and the meaning of dying at home. Many participants described their choices around the desire to avoid the hospital setting or institutional care during the end-of-life phase. Dying at home, according to the study, often brings hope of maintaining security of care and better connections with family members and friends during these treatments. However, participants shared that dying at home is not always possible.
An analysis of the participants’ views showed that the type of illness, concerns for the family and the availability of resources were all factors that played important roles in the preference and choice of the patient. This information often makes the patients decision some of choosing to die at home very complicated.
The study highlighted the importance of recognizing the nature of wanting to die at home, often determined by a patient’s identity and their relationships. These findings can be used to better understand the role of person-centered treatment plans in all different care settings. The information about this wide range of the preference for the location of death can give realistic and practical approaches to end-of-life care, providing a more personalized approach that can meet the patients’ diverse needs and desires.
In summary, the study advocates for all the different preferences for places of death. It also encourages that these preferences be included in public policies and the health system quality indicators related to a good death. The goal was to encourage moving away from assumptions of a preferred place of death often encouraged by family care, the home and dying. By doing so, this research study contributes to the development of inclusive policies that align with the values of a wide variety of individuals and communities regarding end-of-life care in Canada.
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Source: Funk, L., Krawczyk, M., Cherba, M., Cohen, S. R., Dujela, C., Nichols, C., & Stajduhar, K. (2023). ‘The beauty and the less beautiful’: exploring the meanings of dying at ‘home’ among community and practitioner representatives and advocates across Canada. Palliative Care and Social Practice, 17, 26323524231156944.
