End of Life in Residential Care from the Perspective of Care Aides

Date

2012

Authors

Waskiewich, Shelly
Funk, Laura M.
Stajduhar, Kelli I.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Abstract

We explored contextual features shaping end-of-life (EOL) care in residential care facilities by drawing on the perspectives of 11 resident care aides (RCAs) in one Western Canadian urban centre. RCAs characterized EOL care as “providing comfort”, including physical and emotional comfort. Concerns with time and workload challenges dominated accounts and generated guilt, sadness, and frustration. RCAs tried to “find the time” by taking it from themselves or other residents, and by relying on the commitment of co-workers and on families. Findings emphasize the importance of the RCA role (particularly in emotional comfort), yet call for attention to interpretations of what is involved in this work, and to definitions of scopes of practice and training requirements. Findings reiterate the importance, among Canadian RCAs, of appropriate workloads to facilitate quality EOL care, and raise concerns about how time constraints shape EOL care practice and the meanings infusing this practice.

Description

Keywords

aging, care aides, death and dying, end-of-life care, residential care facilities, personal care homes

Citation

Shelly Waskiewich, Laura M. Funk and Kelli I. Stajduhar (2012). End of Life in Residential Care from the Perspective of Care Aides. Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement, 31, pp 411421 doi:10.1017/S0714980812000360