• Serge Dumont, Philip Jacobs, Véronique Turcotte, Donna Anderson, and François Harel.
• School of Social Work, Pavillon Charles-De Koninck, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada, Laval University Cancer Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada. serge.dumont@svs.ulaval.ca
• Palliat Med. 2010 Sep 1;24(6):630-40.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to highlight the trajectory of palliative care costs over the last five months of life in five urban centres across Canada.SubjectsThe study sample was comprised of 160 terminally ill patients and their main informal caregivers.Research DesignA first interview took place in the patient's home, and subsequent follow-up interviews were conducted by telephone at two week intervals until the patient's passing.MeasuresParticipants were asked to provide information on the goods and services they used related to the patients' health condition, and on informal caregiving time.ResultsThe overall costs of care gradually increased from the fifth to the last month of the patients' life. A large part of this cost increase was attributable to inpatient care. Among outpatient care costs the largest increase was observed for home care. Informal care costs were particularly high over the last 3 months of life.ConclusionsThe knowledge gained from this study would be useful to policy makers when developing policies that could help families caring for a terminally ill loved one at home.

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