The state of palliative care in Swiss nursing homes
The nursing research unit at the School of Health Professions is investigating palliative care in Swiss nursing and retirement homes on behalf of the Swiss federation. The results of the “Palliative Care in long-term care facilities (Carlo)” project will be included in a Federal Council report on strengthening palliative care.
Palliative care is to be anchored more firmly in the Swiss healthcare system. Last summer, the Council of States commissioned the Federal Council to produce a report, on the basis of which the care and treatment of people at the end of their lives is to be improved. The report aims to show how palliative care (basic and specialised palliative care) can be promoted sustainably. This also includes an overview of the existing palliative care in Swiss retirement and nursing homes. However, there is currently no data on the care situation in these homes.
Survey of nursing home managers
The “Palliative Care in long-term care facilities (Carlo)” project was undertaken by the nursing research unit at the ZHAW School of Health Professions on behalf of the Federal Office of Public Health to gather the missing data. In collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland as well as the Curaviva and Senesuisse nursing home associations, nursing home managers all over Switzerland were asked about the state of palliative care in their facilities in April. The representative online survey will be evaluated this summer. The results provide an initial assessment of palliative care in Swiss nursing homes and will be included in the Federal Council’s report.