Despite wishes for and benefits of home deaths, a discrepancy between preferred and actual location of death persists. Provision of home care may be an effective policy response to support home deaths. Using the population-based mortality follow-back study conducted in Nova Scotia, we investigated the associations between home death and formal care at home and between home death and the type of formal care at home. We found (1) the use of formal care at home at the end of life was associated with home death and (2) the use of formal home support services at home was associated with home death among those whose symptoms were well managed.
BurgeFJohnstonGLawsonBDewarRCummingsI. Population-based trends in referral of the elderly to a comprehensive palliative care program. Palliat Med. 2002;16(3):255–256.
2.
BurgeFLawsonBJohnstonG. Trends in the place of death of cancer patients, 1992-1997. CMAJ. 2003;168(3):265–270.
3.
GomesBHigginsonIJ. Factors influencing death at home in terminally ill patients with cancer: systematic review. BMJ. 2006;332(7540):515–521.
4.
McWhinneyIRBassMJOrrV. Factors associated with location of death (home or hospital) of patients referred to a palliative care team. CMAJ. 1995;152(3):361–367.
5.
BrumleyREnguidanosSJamisonP. Increased satisfaction with care and lower costs: results of a randomized trial of in-home palliative care. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007;55(7):993–1000.
6.
JordhøyMSFayersPSaltnesTAhlner-ElmqvistMJannertMKaasaS. A palliative-care intervention and death at home: a cluster randomised trial. Lancet. 2000;356(9233):888–893.
7.
BurgeFLawsonBJohnstonGAsadaYMcIntyrePFlowerdewG. Preferred and actual location of death: what factors enable a preferred home death. J Palliat Med. 2015;18(12):1054–1059. PMID: 26398744.
8.
GrandeGEFarquharMCBarclaySIToddCJ. Caregiver bereavement outcome: relationship with hospice at home, satisfaction with care, and home death. J Palliat Care. 2004;20(2):69–77.
BurgeFLawsonBJohnstonG. Bereaved family member perceptions of patient-focused family-centred care during the last 30 days of life using a mortality follow-back survey: does location matter?BMC Palliat Care. 2014;13(25):25.
12.
Canadian Home Care Association. Portraits of Home Care in Canada2013. Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; 2013.
13.
Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness. Home Care Policy Manual. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; 2011.
14.
The Conference Board of Canada. Home and Community Care in Canada: An Economic Footprint. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; 2012.
15.
EnguidanosSMCherinDBrumleyR. Home-based palliative care study: site of death, and costs of medical care for patients with congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer. J Soc Work End Life Palliat Care. 2005;1(3):37–56.
