Bereaved carers' experiences of a partnership model of after-hours and extended palliative care delivery in rural Australia
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Caregivers are fundamental to achieving effective home-based palliative care. Lack of access to after-hours visiting palliative care and non-clinical home support in rural areas increases caregiver burden, unplanned hospital admissions and impacts patients' ability to die at home. To support end-of-life care at home, the New South Wales Government endorsed partnership models between specialist community-based palliative services and non-government organisations to provide end of life support packages to enhance after-hours access and non-clinical support. AIM: To explore bereaved rural carers' experiences of supporting dying at home within this model. METHOD: Bereaved carers accessing lend of life support packages were purposively recruited. A total of 10 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data was thematically analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. The COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ) framework guided study reporting. FINDINGS: Collaboration, after-hours visiting access and extended non-clinical support facilitated end-of-life care at the patient's home. Participants of the study had a positive experience of this partnership. CONCLUSION: This integrative model addressed existing service gaps, maximised carer support and facilitated home deaths. Further public policy, funding and research is needed to support integrated rural palliative care models.
Authors: Pauline Smith, Graeme Browne, David Schmidt
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Funder: Australian Government
OpenAlex ID: W4410616339