Implementation of a threefold intervention to improve palliative care for persons experiencing homelessness: a process evaluation using the RE-AIM framework.

Background: Palliative care provision for persons experiencing homelessness is often poor. A threefold consultation service intervention was expected to increase knowledge of palliative care and multidisciplinary collaboration, and improve palliative care for this population. This intervention comprised: 1) consultation of social service professionals by palliative care specialists and vice versa; 2) multidisciplinary meetings with these professionals; and 3) training and education of these professionals.

Evaluating the perceived added value of a threefold intervention to improve palliative care for persons experiencing homelessness: a mixed-method study among social service and palliative care professionals.

Background: Palliative care for persons experiencing homelessness who reside in social service facilities is often late or lacking. A threefold intervention was implemented to improve palliative care for this population by increasing knowledge and collaboration between social service and palliative care professionals. This consultation service comprised: 1) consultations between social service professionals and palliative care professionals; 2) multidisciplinary meetings involving these professionals; and 3) training of these professionals.

Care avoidance among homeless people and access to care: an interview study among spiritual caregivers, street pastors, homeless outreach workers and formerly homeless people.

Background: Because of their poor health and social vulnerability, homeless people require specific care. However, due to care avoidance, homeless people are often not involved in care. This study aims to get insights into reasons for and kinds of care avoidance among homeless people and to provide suggestions to reach this target group.

The Views of Homeless People and Health Care Professionals on Palliative Care and the Desirability of Setting Up a Consultation Service: A Focus Group Study.

Context: Palliative care for homeless people is often given late, if at all. Professionals in both palliative care and shelter care are often insufficiently equipped to provide this complex care.

Objectives: To provide insights into the palliative care experiences of professionals and homeless people, including barriers and facilitators to care, and to investigate whether a consultative function can help improve palliative care for homeless people.

The palliative performance scale applied in high-care residential hospice: a retrospective study.

Background: The Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) is a tool that is widely used to predict end of life. In Ontario, Canada, the PPS is used to mark the terminal phase of life and eligibility for terminal care.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to confirm that a PPS level of 40% can be used as a marker for the terminal phase of life.