A qualitative investigation of the palliative care needs of terminally ill people who live alone

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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/191545

Title: A qualitative investigation of the palliative care needs of terminally ill people who live alone
Author(s): Aoun, S.; Kristjanson, L. J.; Oldham, L.; Currow, D.
Abstract: This paper investigates the support needs of people living alone with a terminal illness from a client perspective. In depth, interviews were conducted with 11 clients from Silver Chain Hospice Care in Western Australia to capture their personal experiences of managing at home alone and to assess their physical, social and emotional needs. Findings provided useful insights with respect to many of the motivations, beliefs and wishes of individuals who endeavour to cope on their own with minimal assistance. The needs of these individuals are practical, emotional, physical and existential. At the heart of these concerns is a strong need to be independent and maintain a sense of dignity at end of life.
Publication type: Journal article
Source: Collegian: Journal of the Royal College of Nursing Australia, Vol. 15, no. 1 (Feb 2008), pp. 3-9
Publication year: 2008
FOR Code(s): 1110 Nursing
Keyword(s): Community; Home alone; Hospice; Palliative care
Publisher: Elsevier
ISSN: 1322-7696
Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2007.11.005
Peer reviewed