A national survey which asked bereaved people about care provided to loved ones at the end of their lives, found positive experiences across several areas of care.
They also felt staff explained their relative or friend's condition and care in an understandable way. In addition, participants said that they were not given enough help and support by healthcare staff to talk to children or young adults about their relative or friend’s illness. In addition, participants were most likely to say they always felt welcome to visit their relative or friend in a hospice at any time in the last three months, compared with a nursing home or a hospital .
The HSE will use the survey findings to inform the development of quality improvement plans at national and local levels. Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler, welcomed the significant level of satisfaction reflected in the survey findings in relation to nursing home care and said it reinforced the 'commitment' to provide compassionate end-of-life care.