Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie 6/2010

01.12.2010 | Beiträge zum Themenschwerpunkt

Palliative care for the geriatric patient in Europe

Survey describing the services, policies, legislation, and associations

verfasst von: R. Piers, S. Pautex, V. Curale, M. Pfisterer, M.-C. Van Nes, L. Rexach, M. Ribbe, N. Van Den Noortgate

Erschienen in: Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie | Ausgabe 6/2010

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

Background

Knowledge about the quality of end-of-life care in the elderly patient in Europe is fragmented. The European Union Geriatric Medicine Society (EUGMS) Geriatric Palliative Medicine (GPM) Interest Group set as one of its goals to better characterize geriatric palliative care in Europe.

Objective

The goal of the current study was to map the existing palliative care structures for geriatric patients, the available policies, legislation, and associations in geriatric palliative medicine in different countries of Europe.

Methods

A questionnaire was sent to Geriatric and Palliative Medicine Societies of European countries through contact persons. The areas of interest were (1) availability of services for the management of geriatric patients by using vignette patients (advanced cancer, severe cardiac disease, and severe dementia), (2) policies, legislation of palliative care, and (3) associations involved in geriatric palliative medicine.

Results

Out of 21 countries contacted, 19 participated. Palliative care units and home care palliative consultation teams are available in most countries. In contrast, palliative care in long-term care facilities and in geriatric wards is less developed.
A disparity was found between the available services and those most appropriate to take care of the three cases described in the vignettes, especially for the patient dying from non-malignant diseases. The survey also demonstrated that caregivers are not well prepared to care for the elderly palliative patient at home or in nursing homes.

Conclusion

One of the challenges for the years to come will be to develop palliative care structures adapted to the needs of the elderly in Europe, but also to improve the education of health professionals in this field.
Literatur
1.
Zurück zum Zitat Murray CJ, Lopez AD (1997) Mortality by cause for eight regions of the world: Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet 349:1269–1276CrossRefPubMed Murray CJ, Lopez AD (1997) Mortality by cause for eight regions of the world: Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet 349:1269–1276CrossRefPubMed
2.
Zurück zum Zitat Davies E, Higginson IJ (eds) (2004) Better palliative care for older people. Higginson, World Health Organization,Geneva Davies E, Higginson IJ (eds) (2004) Better palliative care for older people. Higginson, World Health Organization,Geneva
4.
Zurück zum Zitat Pautex S, Curiale V, Pfisterer M et al (2010) A common definition of geriatric palliative medicine. J Am Geriatr Soc 58:790–791CrossRefPubMed Pautex S, Curiale V, Pfisterer M et al (2010) A common definition of geriatric palliative medicine. J Am Geriatr Soc 58:790–791CrossRefPubMed
5.
Zurück zum Zitat Michel JP, Huber P, Cruz-Jentoft AJ (2008) Europe-wide survey of teaching in geriatric medicine. J Am Geriatr Soc 56:1536–1542CrossRefPubMed Michel JP, Huber P, Cruz-Jentoft AJ (2008) Europe-wide survey of teaching in geriatric medicine. J Am Geriatr Soc 56:1536–1542CrossRefPubMed
6.
Zurück zum Zitat Centeno C et al (2007) Facts and indicators on palliative care development in 52 countries of the WHO European region: results of an EAPC Task Force. Palliat Med 21:463–471CrossRefPubMed Centeno C et al (2007) Facts and indicators on palliative care development in 52 countries of the WHO European region: results of an EAPC Task Force. Palliat Med 21:463–471CrossRefPubMed
7.
Zurück zum Zitat Field D, Addington-Hall J (1999) Extending specialist palliative care to all? Soc Sci Med 48:1271–1280CrossRefPubMed Field D, Addington-Hall J (1999) Extending specialist palliative care to all? Soc Sci Med 48:1271–1280CrossRefPubMed
8.
Zurück zum Zitat Grande GE, McKerral A, Todd CJ (2002) Which cancer patients are referred to hospital at home for palliative care? Palliat Med 16:115–123CrossRefPubMed Grande GE, McKerral A, Todd CJ (2002) Which cancer patients are referred to hospital at home for palliative care? Palliat Med 16:115–123CrossRefPubMed
9.
Zurück zum Zitat Wittenberg-Lyles EM, Sanchez-Reilly S (2008) Palliative care for elderly patients with advanced cancer: a long-term intervention for end-of-life care. Patient Educ Couns 71:351–355CrossRefPubMed Wittenberg-Lyles EM, Sanchez-Reilly S (2008) Palliative care for elderly patients with advanced cancer: a long-term intervention for end-of-life care. Patient Educ Couns 71:351–355CrossRefPubMed
10.
Zurück zum Zitat Lunney JR, Lynn J, Hogan C (2002) Profiles of older medicare decedents. J Am Geriatr Soc 50:1108–1112CrossRefPubMed Lunney JR, Lynn J, Hogan C (2002) Profiles of older medicare decedents. J Am Geriatr Soc 50:1108–1112CrossRefPubMed
11.
Zurück zum Zitat Miccinesi G et al (2005) Physicians’ attitudes towards end-of-life decisions: a comparison between seven countries. Soc Sci Med 60:1961–1974CrossRefPubMed Miccinesi G et al (2005) Physicians’ attitudes towards end-of-life decisions: a comparison between seven countries. Soc Sci Med 60:1961–1974CrossRefPubMed
12.
Zurück zum Zitat Wunsch H et al (2009) Use of intensive care services during terminal hospitalizations in England and the United States. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 180:875–880CrossRefPubMed Wunsch H et al (2009) Use of intensive care services during terminal hospitalizations in England and the United States. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 180:875–880CrossRefPubMed
13.
Zurück zum Zitat Van den Block L et al (2007) Transitions between care settings at the end of life in Belgium. JAMA 298:1638–1639CrossRef Van den Block L et al (2007) Transitions between care settings at the end of life in Belgium. JAMA 298:1638–1639CrossRef
14.
Zurück zum Zitat Hamric AB, Blackhall LJ (2007) Nurse-physician perspectives on the care of dying patients in intensive care units: collaboration, moral distress, and ethical climate. Crit Care Med 35:422–429CrossRefPubMed Hamric AB, Blackhall LJ (2007) Nurse-physician perspectives on the care of dying patients in intensive care units: collaboration, moral distress, and ethical climate. Crit Care Med 35:422–429CrossRefPubMed
15.
Zurück zum Zitat De Gendt C et al (2009) End-of-life decision-making and terminal sedation among very old patients. Gerontology 55:99–105CrossRef De Gendt C et al (2009) End-of-life decision-making and terminal sedation among very old patients. Gerontology 55:99–105CrossRef
16.
Zurück zum Zitat Kapo J, Morrison LJ, Liao S (2007) Palliative care for the older adult. J Palliat Med 10:185–209CrossRefPubMed Kapo J, Morrison LJ, Liao S (2007) Palliative care for the older adult. J Palliat Med 10:185–209CrossRefPubMed
17.
18.
Zurück zum Zitat Muir JC, Arnold RM (2002) Palliative care and the hospitalist: an opportunity for cross-fertilization. Dis Mon 48:207–216CrossRefPubMed Muir JC, Arnold RM (2002) Palliative care and the hospitalist: an opportunity for cross-fertilization. Dis Mon 48:207–216CrossRefPubMed
Metadaten
Titel
Palliative care for the geriatric patient in Europe
Survey describing the services, policies, legislation, and associations
verfasst von
R. Piers
S. Pautex
V. Curale
M. Pfisterer
M.-C. Van Nes
L. Rexach
M. Ribbe
N. Van Den Noortgate
Publikationsdatum
01.12.2010
Verlag
Springer-Verlag
Erschienen in
Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie / Ausgabe 6/2010
Print ISSN: 0948-6704
Elektronische ISSN: 1435-1269
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00391-010-0149-y

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 6/2010

Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie 6/2010 Zur Ausgabe

Beiträge zum Themenschwerpunkt

Palliative Geriatrie