Thinking and talking about palliative care

Healthwatch Bolton undertook research on palliative and end of life care. They spoke to 178 people to understand their awareness of palliative care, where they seek information, how comfortable they are discussing end of life, and what they would want from end of life services. 

The research found that many people were unfamiliar with the full meaning of palliative care and often associated it solely with end of life care. Despite the sensitivity of the topic, most respondents were willing to discuss end of life issues and many expressed a desire for more opportunities to have these conversations. Healthcare professionals and internet sources were the most commonly identified sources of information about palliative and end of life care. 

Most people said they would prefer to receive end of life care at home, with hospice care as the next preferred option. Respondents valued comfort, dignity, choice, effective pain management and being surrounded by family and friends. However, many were concerned about the impact that dying at home could have on family members and highlighted the importance of well-coordinated, compassionate and personalised support.

Healthwatch Bolton concluded that there is a need to improve public understanding of the difference between palliative and end of life care and to provide more information about options such as advance care planning and power of attorney. The report recommended creating information resources, supporting public events to encourage conversations about death and bereavement, and providing more opportunities for people to discuss their wishes and preferences for end of life care.