Dying Experience in Nursing Home

Dying Experience in Nursing Home

Arbuthnot, Elsa; Dawson, Jane; & Hansen-Ketchum, Patti. (2007). Senior women and rural living. Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Healthcare. 7(1):1-12. Retrieved May 29, 2010 from http://www.rno.org/journal/index.php/online-journal/article/viewFile/5/179

This article also expresses the individual's desire to experience death within the context of the home, yet shows the high strain such strategies have on resources. Without being able to meet this request, many are forced to experience death in nursing homes and hospices, which then increase anxiety and decrease the quality of the death experience.

Browne, Amy. (2007). Dying and death in a nursing home. Seniors. Associated Content. Retrieved May 29, 2010 from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/390397/dying_and_death_in_a_nursing_home.html?cat=12

Describes modern care practices for patients dying in a nursing home. It is a common practice to prescribe heavy pain relievers, such as morphine or roxanol in order to decrease discomfort and create a more comfortable context for the individual to experience death.

Consumer Affairs. (2004). Support for dying patients often lacking. News. Retrieved May 29, 2010 from http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/nursing_home_terminal.html

This article reinforces the idea that modern nursing homes are under staffed and under funded. This causes serious gaps in the quality of care which has negative affects on the dying experience of the individual patients. Additionally, poor staff hiring can cause an environment where patients near death are treating with a lack of respect, causing low self-esteem before death.

Ferrell, Betty & Coyle, Nessa. (2006). Textbook of Palliative Nursing. Oxford University Press.

This book outlines traditional hospice care that can be implemented in specific cases dealing with nursing homes that can help increase the quality of the death experience. This work makes sure to advocate the varying nature of the death experience depending on the individual, and presents a model for care that is tailored to the individual's condition, both physical and emotional.

Field, Marilyn Jane & Cassel, Christine K. (1997). Approaching Death: Improving Care at the End of the Life. National Academic Press.

This work emphasizes the necessity to improve end of life care as a way to help ease fears about death and reduce anxiety which would create a more negative death experience within the nursing home. Additionally, this work shows the negative impact of over treating symptoms that are relating to oncoming death which cause patients unnecessary stress and pain in their last few days.

Hanson, Laura C. (2003). Improving Nursing Home Care of the Dying: A Training Manual for Nursing Home Staff. Springer Publishing Company.

This handbook for physicians emphasizes taking a multi-disciplinary approach to caring for the dying, which also encourages nursing home staff to learn from the lessons seen in hospice care. This includes taking a strategy of main management, rather than resuscitation in order to provide the best possible end of life experience.

Hall, Sue; Longhurst, Susan; & Higginson, Irene. (2009). Living and dying with dignity: a qualitative study of the views of older people in nursing homes. Age and Aging. 38(4):411-416.