Engaging Future Healthcare Professionals as Caregivers to Hospice Patients in Comfort Care Homes. (June 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Melekis, Kelly; Weisse, Carol S.; Phillips, Emma
• Is Part Of: Omega. Volume 87:Number 2(2023)
• Page Start: 632
• Page End: 648
• Publication Date: 2023-06
• Subjects: residential care homes -- end-of-life care education -- experiential learning -- online learning -- program evaluation; Death -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Bereavement -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; Death -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Suicide -- Periodicals; 306.9
• DOI: 10.1177/00302228211026197
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0030-2228

Abstract

Most people wish to die at home yet significant barriers exist in accessing care in one's home, especially for individuals with caregiver and/or housing instability. Across the U.S., residential homes for the dying are opening to address gaps in end-of-life care by recruiting community members to serve as caregivers to hospice patients during their final days. This paper describes a blended-experiential training program, informed by both an evidence-based educational framework and transformative learning theory, that trains undergraduate students to serve as surrogate family members to hospice patients in residential care homes. This study analyzed data from a sample of undergraduate students (n = 35) who participated in an 8-week program. Applying Kirkpatrick's evaluation model, study results indicate the program provided essential knowledge and skills in end-of-life care, benefiting both student learning outcomes and resident care.