Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the cognizance of home care from the viewpoint of bereaved individuals who have taken care of a terminally ill patient at home. Questionnaires were mailed by a clinic that proposed home hospice care to 100 bereaved individuals, and who have had a family member pass away between six months and two years prior. Forty-five completed questionnaires, which included the families' impressions and comments towards home care, were mailed back and analyzed. Categories were selected from a content analysis of the sentences as summaries towards home care. Families perceived the service as "care with a caring spirit," and "care elevating confidence toward patients' care," and expressed to have "appropriate care given by each professional," "satisfaction with home care," and a "willingness to promote home care". However, families also expressed "regret," and felt that there were "questionable points about the care," which implied that work remains to be done to promote home hospice care in the future. These results suggest that the majority of families were satisfied with services for patients in the home at the end of their life, and the resolution of regret or other questionable problems may lead to more positive changes to home care practice.
