Journal
of Palliative Medicine, February 2014, vol./is. 17/2(200-3)
O'Connor
M
With the number of palliative care patients living alone projected to grow, it will become
increasingly important to provide appropriate home-based care in order to
support these patients to be cared for and die at home. This study
explored the experiences of community-based palliative care cancer patients who
live alone without a caregiver and the psychosocial issues they face. The practice implications for working
with people close to death who are living alone are that supports and
assistance may be needed to maintain social networks and also a sense of
independence.