Care of People at the End of Their Lives in Rural and Coastal Communities of the Southwest Peninsula of England (Research Study)

What is this study about?

Our research study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). It aims to understand what helps or hinders good care for people approaching the end of their lives in rural and coastal areas of the Southwest of England. It is led by the University of Plymouth in collaboration with local health and care partners, and supported by researchers from the University of Exeter, the University of Hull and King’s College London.

We are working in partnership with local NHS, social care, and voluntary organisations to explore how end-of-life services are delivered and how they can be made more compassionate, joined up, and accessible.

What does the research involve?

The study will take place across several sites in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset and include a range of activities designed to build a rich, in-depth understanding of end-of-life care in rural and coastal communities.

These activities include:

• Interviews with patients, family members, and carers will explore personal experiences of receiving or supporting end-of-life care.
• Interviews with health, care, and voluntary sector professionals where we will gather insights from those involved in the delivery of care, including challenges they face and strategies they use to meet people’s needs.
• Workshops will bring together people with lived experience and professionals to reflect on early findings, test ideas, and co-develop practical recommendations for improving services. Most workshops will be online, but there will be two workshops in person.
• Focus groups will be conducted at the end of the data collection period and will bring together a range of stakeholders, including health and social care professionals, leaders from statutory and voluntary sector organisations, and representatives of relevant community groups.

The role care homes play in end-of-life care

Care homes play an important role in the care of people at the end of their life. On average, just over a fifth of people who die each year in the UK will receive care at the end of their life in a care home. This is predicted to increase. Therefore, it is very important that we hear the voices of those working, visiting and living in rural and coastal care homes. To support this, we will dedicate one of our six population studies to rural and coastal care home settings.   

How can I find out more or take part?

If you’d like to know more about the study, be part of a care home population study, or want to get involved in any of the activities above, please contact our project manager:

Gina Kallis: gina.kallis@plymouth.ac.uk