Abstract
The aim of this study was to clarify the level of emotional distress experienced by bereaved family members and the perceived necessity for improvement in the care for patients who experience home care by visiting nurses.
Questionnaires were sent to 61 bereaved family members in December 2013, with 52％ responding.
Families reported their experiences as very distressing in 13％ of cases. Regarding care, 84％ of respondents believed that no improvement was needed. Determinants of high-level distress were insomnolence at the start of home care (P＝0.049); and patient choking while being assisted to eat by a family member (P＝0.018) . Determinants of high-level necessity for improvement were: feeling unsure when to call the nurse (P＝0.017).
Although the majority of families reported that no improvement was needed, we propose that desirable care for the patient and family should include assessment of the health status of family, advice regarding insomnolence, and coaching about cooking and assisting with easy-to-swallow food.
