Opinion survey of nursing or caring staff at long-term care facilities about end-of-life care provision and staff education

Although long-term care facilities are expected to assume a growing responsibility in caring for the dying elderly, research in this area is still in its early stages. The present study aims to explore the educational and support needs of nursing home care staff in comparison with geriatric hospital, which provide 24-h physician service. The subjects in this study were caring staff of 45 long-term care facilities in Nagoya City as of December 2006. Data was collected through questionnaires covering the following: (i) possible barriers to end-of-life care provision at own facilities and (ii) areas in which a need for education was perceived. One thousand and fifty nine staff responded. Approximately three-fourths of the staff felt that additional staff, physician or nurse available 24 h, and staff education were crucial in the provision of end-of-life care at their facilities. Dementia care, physical care, communication with residents and families, psychological aspects of dying, and pain/symptom control were listed as the five items deemed most important to address. This study indicated that nursing and caring staff recognize a need in 24-h medical service and hospital involvement of end-of-life care provision at their facilities, and that staff are eager to be educated concerning end-of-life.