End of Life Preferences
- 16 Jul
With alot of attention on Liverpool care pathway (LCP), how people's end-of-life wishes are taken into account has become a growing concern.
"Successive surveys have found that around two thirds of people say that home would be the place they would want to die - but research recently carried out by Demos for the charity Sue Ryder reveals that although 78% of people surveyed said that dying without pain was important to them, only 27% felt that home was a place where they would be free from pain during their final days."
Since 2008, the LCP is one element of a vast end-of-life care system that has been operational to help people achieve their preferred place of death.
However, this has led to an underdeveloped system and ensuring people can die at home is currently being used as a quick and easy alternative for a good death.
Although, decisions about end-of-life care are often made under difficult circumstances and it can be challenging for professionals to discuss the complexities of medication and families' wishes.
Nevertheless, the development of the end-of-life care system has been weakened and leaves other settings neglected instead of developing them as good places for people to die.
Despite knowing this, people still wish to die at home because it satisfies more of their preferences like being surrounded by loved ones.
According to the Guardian, in order to align the end-of-life care system with the rest of health and social care, we must shift the emphasis from where to how and think about what outcomes people value, regardless of where they end up.
This places a lot more responsibility on health and care staff to communicate honestly and sensitively with patients and their families about the kind of death they would like to achieve, and inform them of their options.
Doctors, nurses and other health and care staff should be supported to ask the right kinds of questions in this circumstance.
The advance care plans would be a great implement to ensure that place is not viewed as the most important or only choice that a person needs to make about their death.
We should look forward to a system where a person can decide how they want to die by putting the correct options for achieving it into consideration.
Image source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1391967
Related articles
- 25 May
CARE HAS IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY IN ENGLAND
Almost three fourth of 372 care homes rated inadequate in 2014 and still operating have improved.205 care homes have improved from a low rating to requiring improvement, 68 are now rated good and 99...
- 24 May
NHS ADJUSTMENTS TO BUDGET CUTS
NHS trusts which have been previously rated good or outstanding will not be inspected as frequently as before, but those rated as inadequate will be regularly visited by the CQC.The Guardian reports...
- 19 Mar
Government to inspect if housing can reduce NHS costs
In the Budget document the government have said it's looking at the ‘cost-effectiveness of options to integrate spending around some of the most vulnerable groups of people.' This includes...
- 15 Oct
End of life patients are lacking support
The charity has found that almost 92% of NHS clinical commissioning groups do not provide round the clock telephone helplines, reports the BBC.Guidelines say there should be 24-hour telephone...
- 15 Sep
Social care is being limited due to council cuts
ADASS are warning that cuts are making the care system "unsustainable" with charities saying hundreds of thousands of people are struggling without help, even though the government says councils have...
- 17 Jul
Young people should not be placed in B&Bs says MPs
The Commons Education Select Committee has said that B&B accommodation is "threatening and frightening" and should only be used in emergency situations reports the BBC.MPs say that young people...
- 16 Jul
Special measures system designed to improve failing care homes
A scheme similar to special measures of hospitals will be introduced for care homes and home care agencies next year, ministers will say, reports the BBC.This will cover 25,000 services and could...
- 14 Jul
Research says that one in three Alzheimer's cases can be prevented
The research says that the main risk factors of Alzheimer's is lack of exercise, smoking, depression and poor education, reports the BBC. Alzheimer's Research UK said age was still the biggest risk...
- 10 Jul
NHS boss says those with vulnerabilities need joint health and care budget
Simon Stevens wants to see older people, those with disabilities and people with serious mental health problems given joint pots from the NHS and council-run social care services, reports the...
- 17 Jun
Council falters in reviewing autistic man’s care plan
According to Community Care:"The ruling was made by the Local Government Ombudsman after the man's mother complained that his physical and mental health deteriorated in the two-year period after...
Revenue Optimisation "We really appreciate the work that Support Solutions did for Home Group in securing significant additional revenue for our supported housing schemes. This really will make a positive difference to the way in which we support our vulnerable tenants". Dave Coope - Home Group
