RELOCATION STRESS SYNDROME - THE CASE OF PALLIATIVE CARE PATIENTS

Transfer of patients from palliative care services to nursing homes is necessary at present when a patient is relatively stable, but does no t have adequate support systems at home. With the ageing of the popula tion and the increasing incidence of cancer, the need for inpatient pa lliative care beds is growing with corresponding pressure for patients to be transferred to nursing homes. Transfer to a nursing home in the general population has been described extensively in the gerontology literature where a critical early phase of relocation has been identif ied by a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. The vulnerability of terminally ill patients means that they are at increased risk of su ffering from stress associated with a transfer. The prognosis of a pat ient may be shorter than the time required for adjustment to the patie nt's new home. The issues surrounding transfer of palliative care pati ents to nursing homes and possible strategies designed to reduce distr ess associated with transfers are explored.