End-of-life care and dying: issues raised by staff supporting older people with intellectual disability in community living services.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore the current status of end-of-life care and dying of people with intellectual disability based on the experiences of staff in community living services.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted, guided by grounded theory methodology.
RESULTS: The current status of end-of-life care and dying comprised five key 'issues': knowledge of dying, ethical values, the where of caring, the how of caring and post-death caring. These issues occurred in relationship with 'partners', including the dying person, other clients, fellow staff, family, external health services and the coroner.
CONCLUSIONS: End-of-life care represents a complex interaction between the care issues and the partners involved in care. Despite this complexity, staff were committed to the provision of end-of-life care.