Katherine Phillips, The Royal Star and Garter Home, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6RR (tel 0181 940 3314; fax 0181 940 1953).
Counsel and Care have prepared the following very useful list of questions that residential care and nursing homes could ask themselves concerning death and dying.
The list features as a chapter of their book LLast Rights (available for £6-60 from Counsel and Care - Jef Smith and his colleagues - Twyman House, 16 Bonny Street, London NW1 9PG, tel 0171 485 1550; fax 0171 267 6877).
(2) Have any specific information or requests been recorded in each resident's case notes or care plan and made known to all relevant staff?
(3) Is there a record for each resident of who should be contacted when death seems likely?
(4) If residents indicate that they want to talk about the possibility of their dying, are staff able to respond or to call on someone appropriate?
(6) If rooms are shared, is thought given to whether a dying resident or his or her companion would like to move?
(7) Does the bedroom remain a homely place throughout a terminal illness?
(8) Can a dying resident be assured that they will not be left alone, if that is their wish?
(9) Are the relevant friends, relatives or other sources of support contacted as soon as appropriate?
(10) Are frail or very sick residents helped to get up and visit other parts of the home if they want to?
(12) Can relatives be accommodated overnight so as to be with a dying relative, provided with refreshments and other facilities, and made to feel welcome?
(13) Are family members who feel able to, encouraged to participate in nursing and looking after the personal needs of their dying relative?
(14) Are relatives informed of a death promptly and helped to deal with the immediate emotional and practical issues they face?
(15) Do staff know where to advise relatives to get expert help on bereavement?
(16) Are relatives able to stay in touch with the home and its residents after a death if they wish to?
(18) Are residents who wish to able to visit a dying companion, to make some contribution to their care and themselves to get support with their feelings of sadness or fear?
(19) Is there an agreed and sensitive way of informing residents of a death in the home?
(20) Are facilities, including transport and staff escorts if necessary, available for residents who wish to attend a funeral?
(21) Do residents who are unable to attend the funeral have another opportunity to pay their last respects to a dead colleague?
(22) Is bereavement counselling or similar help available to residents?
(23) Are residents who have died recalled - in conversations, through photos in which they appear, by specific items marked in their memory, or in any other way?
(25) If a detailed knowledge of minority religious and cultural practice is not present within the staff group, is it known where advice can be sought?
(26) When a resident who has requested something different from a conventional funeral dies, is the situation explained to other residents and appropriate opportunities provided for them to participate in mourning?
(28) Is training made available to staff in ways which help to develop their skills and to cope with the special stress of dealing with the deaths of residents?
(29) Is bereavement counselling or similar help available to staff?
(30) When a resident is close to death is information passed to members of staff who are off-duty who would like to be kept informed?
(31) Are administrative, catering and domestic staff given the opportunity to relate to dying residents if they wish to?
(32) Are all relevant staff given time, and helped with transport if necessary, to attend residents' funerals?
(34) Does the home have links with a hospice in the area?
(35) Is maximum use made of community health services on behalf of terminally ill residents?
(36) Are the neighbours, friends and relatives of a dying resident made welcome?