About the Dying Well at Home Report
Research, both in Ireland and internationally, consistently demonstrates that home is the preferred place of death for the majority of people. Despite this, the realities of providing end-of-life care in the home can be challenging due to the limited resources of healthcare workers, untimely access to care, the increasing complexity of care and the investment of time and energy by family and carers.
Since 2021, Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) has placed a stronger focus on end-of-life care and dying at home by examining previous research, conducting a literature review and evidence synthesis looking at policy, statistics and factors that enable or create barriers for people who wish to die at home. IHF are looking to develop a Dying Well at Home programme, which aims to support people to die well at home if this is their wish and it is possible. IHF supports the delivery of end-of-life, palliative and bereavement care in all settings and at all levels across Ireland. By collaborating with people across the sector, we have established end-of-life programmes within both hospitals and long-stay residential care and nursing home settings.
To better understand the experience of dying at home in Ireland, IHF carried out qualitative research with key stakeholders between November 2021 and November 2022.
Focus groups and interviews were held with family and carer groups, healthcare professionals from a range of backgrounds and patients’ advocacy groups.
The Dying Well at Home Report presents the findings of these discussions, to highlight the challenges of ensuring a good death at home and current gaps in the provision of end-of-life care.
Download the Report
Read the full report below.
