Social science & medicine
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Social science & medicine · Sep 1998
ReviewPlace of death and access to home care services: are certain patient groups at a disadvantage?
Research indicates that fewer people are able to die at home than would wish to do so. Furthermore the ability to die at home is unequally distributed depending on patient characteristics. Unless factors associated with home deaths are identified and interventions are targeted accordingly, further general improvements in care support may only help those already at an advantage. ⋯ While home care may help redress the gender imbalance, men may also need to be encouraged and enabled to take on the carer role. Cancer patients in higher socioeconomic groups were both more likely to die at home and to access home care. Hence home deaths may increase by improving access for lower socioeconomic groups to the services available.