Focusing on the needs of older carers at the end of life

Source: National End of Life Care Programme

Follow this link for fulltext.

Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: Case study

In a nutshell:  A joint initiative which began in August 2010 between the Department of Health and Age UK aims to support older carers of people at the end of life so that preferred place of care and preferred place of death are achieved. Carers practical and emotional needs are addressed. The project includes the development of a toolkit which will be available to other organisations who wish to use this model.  The final report will be available in September 2013.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Acknowledgement: National End of Life Care Programme

Committed to carers: Supporting carers of people at the end of life

Source: Marie Curie Cancer Care

Follow this link for fulltext.

Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This comprehensive report includes chapters on:

• the support provided by Marie Curie
• the impact on carers of caring for someone who is dying
• access to information and advice – including financial support
• place of care and place of death – home, hospice or hospital and achieving preferred place of death
• bereavement – including practical things and bereavement support
• summary and recommendations.

Length of publication: 24 pages

White Paper on improving support for family carers in palliative care: part 2

Source: European Journal of Palliative Care 2010, 17(6), p286-290

Follow this link for the fulltext article

Date of publication: November/ December 2010

Type of publication: Article

In a nutshell: In part 2 of this official position paper of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC),  the EAPC Task Force on Family Carers outlines different types of support offered to family carers, and highlight future challenges in the areas of service provision, research and policy development

Length of publication: 5 pages

End of life care for community dwelling older people with dementia: an integrated review

Source: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry Vol. 25(4) p329-37

Follow link for article abstract

Date: April 2010

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: Literature review of qualitative and quantitative research into terminal care for people with dementia living in care homes and in the community. The need for recognition that death is approaching, assessment of symptom management needs, difficulties in advance care planning and carer involvement in decision making are discussed.

Length of publication: 9 pages

Some important notes: Contact your local health library for a copy of this article. Follow this link to find your local health library.

Teaching family carers about home-based palliative care: final results from a group education program.

Title:  Teaching family carers about home-based palliative care: final results from a group education program.

Source:  Journal of Pain & Symptom Management, 2009 38:2 p.299-308.

Follow this link for abstract. 

Date of publication: August 2009

Publication type: Journal article.

In a nutshell:  Initial pilots have shown that group education programs to prepare family carers in their role of supporting a relative with advanced, noncurative cancer at home can be readily developed and are beneficial.  This article reviews a project which built on the pilot research and further examined the effectiveness of the program by evaluating the outcomes with a larger number of participants. 

The study demonstrated that a group education program was effective and went on to outline the implications for further research and practice.

Length of publication: 10 pages. 

Some important notes: “Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library

Dying, death and bereavement: a qualitative study of the views of carers of people with heart failure in the UK.

Author: Neil Small et al

Source: BMC Palliative Care

In a nutshell: This paper explores carers’ views of dying, death and bereavement for family members who had recently died with heart failure. Findings suggest that an absence of discussion about end of life care wishes with family members or health professionals is a barrier to advance care planning.

Click here for the full-text article

Evaluating last offices care and improving services to newly bereaved relatives

Author: Marika Hills

Source: Nursing Times June 16th 2009 Vol. 105(23) p14-6

In a nutshell: The aftercare of deceased patients and performing last offices are important aspects of nurses’ role. Regularly auditing care provision can identify whether standards are being met and highlight areas in need of development. This articles outlines the background to an audit that was prompted by concerns linked to procedures for last offices. The response to initial audit findings and consequent actions taken to raise awareness and improve services are also discussed.

Notes: Contact your local health library for a copy of this article

ACT launches new family companion

Title: ACT launches new family companion

Author: ACT

Date: 7th May 2009

In a nutshell: ACT has launched a new publication to help families and carers of children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions understand what will happen following their child’s diagnosis.

Click here for Family Companion summary

Click here to order resource

Caring with Confidence launched in West Midlands

Title: Caring with Confidence launched in West Midlands

Date: 12th May 2009

In a nutshell: Carers of people nearing the end of life in the West Midlands are to be the first in the country to benefit from a new Caring with Confidence programme designed to help them improve their own health and well being and that of the person they care for.

Click here for the Caring with Confidence website

Acknowledgements: National End of Life Care Programme

Palliative Care 1: principles of palliative care nursing and end of life care

Title: Palliative Care 1: principles of palliative care nursing and end of life care

Author: Robert Becker

Source: Nursing Times 2009 Vol.105 No.13 pgs 14-16

In a nutshell: The first in a three part series examining the diversity and challenges inherent in nurses’ contribution to palliative care. The art and science of caring for the dying and their families has long been recognised as an immensely demanding and rewarding part of health and social care. For nurses, it is central to the values and principles that underpin clinical practice.

Contact the library for a copy of this article

Palliative Care 3: Using palliative nursing skills in clinical practice

Title: Palliative Care 3: Using palliative nursing skills in practice

Author: Robert Becker

Source: Nursing Times Vol. 105 No. 15 p18-21

Year of Publication: 2009

In a nutshell: This article explores the practice-based reality of using the palliative approach in multiple settings and the challenges in such care.

Acknowledgements: Nursing Times

Contact your health library for a copy of this article