What is the role of community at the end of life for people dying in advanced age? A qualitative study with bereaved family carers.

SAGE Palliative Medicine & Chronic Care

This episode features Merryn Gott (School of Nursing, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand). The aim of this study was to explore the role of community at end of life for people dying in advanced age from the perspective of their bereaved family caregivers. The study used a constructionist framework underpinned a qualitative research design. Data were analysed using critical thematic analysis. A reduction in the social networks and community engagement of the older person was identified in the end-of-life period. Numerous barriers to community engagement in advanced age were identified. This study provides strong support for public health approaches to palliative care that advocate building social networks around people who are dying and their family carers. However, it also indicates that strategies to do so must be flexible enough to be responsive to the unique end-of-life circumstances of people in advanced age. Full paper available from: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0269216317735248

If you would like to record a podcast about your published (or accepted) Palliative Medicine paper, please contact Dr Amara Nwosu: [e-mail]