Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
Back to contents page
Day by Day
Patients experiences of Hospice Day Care.
Name & Qualifications of 1 st author:
Kathleen Neenan RGN RCN RNT BNS MSc Lecturer School of Nursing
and Midwifery Trinity College Dublin
Name & Qualifications of additional author(s):
Prof Mary Mc Carron RNID RGN BSc PhD Professor of Nursing
School of Nursing and Midwifery Trinity College Dublin
Dr Kevin Connaire RGN RPN RNT BNS MSc PhD Senior Lecturer St
Francis Hospice Raheny Dublin 5
Prof Karen Cox Professor of Nursing Head of School university of
Nottingham England. RGN BSc PhD
The trend worldwide is towards longer life and the ageing of
populations. Our society is experiencing an increase in numbers of
older people. There will be a significant increase in the number of
people aged over 65 in Ireland over the next ten years (Central
Statistics Office (2006). Currently, 11% of the population is over
65 years but by 2016 this figure is expected to be 15% and by 2050
it is estimated to be 25%. Dying can involve a lengthy preceding
illness, considerable suffering and dependency, and awareness on
the part of the dying person of the terminal nature of their disease:
alternatively it can be quick and relatively pain free occurring with
no foreknowledge. In this society death is largely confined to old
age. This has consequences for the experience of dying as it
becomes merged with old age.
Almost 30,000 people die annually in Ireland and over 6,000 people
use hospice services each year. Ireland has a rich culture of
hospice and palliative care organisations involved in end of life care.
The goal of palliative care is a good quality of life, as defined by the
patient, by maintaining dignity and controlling symptoms (Ferrell
and Borneman, 2002). It is widely agreed that the majority of
patients, given the choice would choose to die at home. There has
been an increase in demand and a change in the patient population
that are presenting to the palliative care services. There are a
larger number of patients referred to the service with more complex
symptoms and psychosocial problems with and more patients are
being referred at an earlier stage of their illness.
- 603 -