SoCA - End-of-life Care

International studies have largely concluded that the care provided to people with dementia in the final stages of life is inadequate, regardless of the care setting. While research into palliative care for people with dementia in institutional settings has increased in recent years, little is known about care provided in a home setting. The aim of this sub-project was to understand a) how care for people with dementia living at home is organised in Germany in the final stages of life, b) what role relatives play in providing care, and c) what factors contribute to people with dementia being able to receive care at home until the end of their lives. Guided interviews with experts in outpatient palliative care were evaluated using qualitative content analysis. The results of this study point to care needs and requirements, stabilising factors in the final stages of life, and a lack of support services for family members providing care. These findings can be used to develop care interventions that strengthen the stability of home care arrangements in the final stages of life for people with dementia.