End of life and death of residents: Experiences and practices of care facility directors in Portuguese residential care facilities

Figures & data

Table 1. Participants’ characteristics.

Participants	Age	Gender	Academic Degree	Years of professional experience in RCFs	Years of professional experience as CFD
P1	42	F	* Psychologist	12	12
P2	51	F	Social worker	5	5
P3	56	F	Social worker	30	11
P4	34	F	Gerontologist	7	4
P5	55	F	Social worker	30	30
P6	30	F	Gerontologist	5	5
P7	31	F	Gerontologist	8	5
P8	43	F	Social educator	14	11
P9	40	F	Social worker	14	14
P10	36	F	* Gerontologist	13	13
P11	47	F	Psychologist	24	24
P12	28	F	* Gerontologist	6	6
P13	35	F	Social educator	13	12
P14	48	F	Social worker	20	15
P15	37	F	Social worker	14	14
P16	42	M	Social worker	14	9
P17	34	F	Nurse	2	2

* Reported having training in palliative care, end-of-life, and death.

Table 2. Care facility directors’ practices and experiences regarding residents’ end-of-life and death: Themes and subthemes.

Themes and subthemes	Participants (n)
Admission and living in RCF: assuring quality of life
Initial interview: residents and/or relatives share death-related wishes	13
Providing quality of life	12
End-of-life and death: care and death management
End-of-life: care and communication with family	17
Death: managing until body removal	17
Postmortem and new admission: continuing and occupying the vacancy
Attending burial ceremonies: supporting mourning	17
Closing the formal process: admitting a new resident	12