End-of-life Care Management for Elderly Persons Requiring Long-term Care at Home by Medical and Care Professionals

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to clarify the needs in end-of-life care management for elderly persons requiring long-term care at home.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted for 20 people working in the community, and were analyzed qualitatively and descriptively.

Results: Support to enable discharge at home, formation of a care team to help achieve a desired life and desired end, family support for the entire end-of-life period, support for making timely and informed decisions, control of symptoms to achieve desired results, and both mental and spiritual support for end-of-life acceptance were provided to realize the individuals' desires.

Conclusion: This study suggested that it is possible to provide high-quality care management for the elderly requiring long-term care at home in the end-of-life period.