Network Types for End-Of-Life Care and Home Deaths Among Older Adults in Europe During COVID-19 Pandemic.

Abstract

The study identified care network types comprising informal and formal care providers during the end-of-life period, and examined their relationship with home deaths. End-of-life interviews were conducted with proxies during the two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The sample included 486 participants who passed away during the pandemic and received care during their final year. Latent Class Analysis identified three care network types: "mixed-care", mostly consisting of adult children in an informal network; "spouse", dominated by spouses with adult children and formal caregivers; and "professional", mainly with formal caregivers and some informal support. Patients with mixed-care were more likely to die at home compared to those with professional networks. Informal care, particularly from adult children, played a crucial role in end-of-life care. Policymakers should support adult children in end-of-life care and promote effective models that integrate formal care services.