J Palliat Care
-
Understanding the factors that precipitate caregiving crises that cannot be resolved at home is central to improving options for care at life's end. The purpose of this study was to explore caregivers' perceptions of the crises that preceded and were resolved by relocation during end-of-life care. ⋯ Relocation presents an opportunity for families to relinquish the burden of end-stage care so that they can resume and complete a lifelong relationship. Careful recognition of and attention to the intimate dynamics that accompany suffering and dying are essential elements of palliative care, which aims to uphold the dignity of the dying person and the integrity of the family in both caregiving and bereavement.
-
This article reports on a preliminary study of the experiences and perceptions of palliative care clinicians in developing capacity for effective, sustainable practice in their work with people who have refractory suffering. Members of a purposive sample of 17 clinicians (10 nurses, 5 doctors, and 2 allied health professionals) were either interviewed (13) or responded to an online questionnaire (4). The study's findings provide insight into these palliative care clinicians' experiences and their perceptions of the capabilities they require, effective learning methods for developing these capabilities, and the supports that can facilitate this capacity building.