Abstract
G. Keser1, V. Allgar2, D. Currow3, H. Weatherly4, A. Hutchinson1, A. Jones1, L. Dunn5, J. Chynoweth2, M. Johnson1
1University of Hull, Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, Hull, United Kingdom, 2University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom, 3University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 4University of York, York, United Kingdom, 5University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
Background/aims: People at the end of life need statutory and non-statutory support. Previous cost estimates associated with informal unpaid care by family/friends are based on decedents known to palliative care teams or, if nationally representative, cancer decedents only and only in the last 3 months of life. We aimed to estimate the cost of informal care in the last 12 months of life. People at the end of life need a range of statutory and non-statutory support. Past cost estimates of informal care are based on decedents known to palliative care teams or, if nationally representative, of carers of cancer decedents only and only in the last 3 months of life.
Methods: Population-based survey, England. The Health Omnibus Survey (South Australia) end-of-life caregiver questions were adapted for the Health Survey for England (HSE), 2017. Participants were asked if i) someone close to them had died of a terminal illness < 5 years, ii) they had provided hands-on personal care, and iii) an estimate of the hours of care provided in the last year of life. The unit cost for a community-based homecare worker was applied (~£24/hour, 2017). Descriptive statistics are presented.
Results: 521/7997 (6.5%) respondents gave an estimated minimum 403,616 hours (median 186; IQR 26 to 730; range 1 to 8760) and maximum 477,902 hours (288; 52 to 936; 1 to 8760) personal care. Minimum and maximum total costs for personal care provided were £9,668,256 and £11,469,648 respectively. Assuming an English population ⩾16 years of 44,981,459 (2017) this represents national costs for informal personal care in the last year of life of between £0.84 billion and £1.00 billion.
Conclusions: This is a first representative UK population level unit costs estimate of informal personal care in their last year of life. We did not consider lost work opportunities, out of pocket costs, true costs or state benefits received, but does demonstrate the extent to which patients are dependent on the support from family and friends in order to be cared for at home.
Abstract ID: OA07:02
Abstract type: Oral Abstract
1University of Hull, Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, Hull, United Kingdom, 2University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom, 3University of Technology, Sydney, Sydney, Australia, 4University of York, York, United Kingdom, 5University of Hull, Hull, United Kingdom
Background/aims: People at the end of life need statutory and non-statutory support. Previous cost estimates associated with informal unpaid care by family/friends are based on decedents known to palliative care teams or, if nationally representative, cancer decedents only and only in the last 3 months of life. We aimed to estimate the cost of informal care in the last 12 months of life. People at the end of life need a range of statutory and non-statutory support. Past cost estimates of informal care are based on decedents known to palliative care teams or, if nationally representative, of carers of cancer decedents only and only in the last 3 months of life.
Methods: Population-based survey, England. The Health Omnibus Survey (South Australia) end-of-life caregiver questions were adapted for the Health Survey for England (HSE), 2017. Participants were asked if i) someone close to them had died of a terminal illness < 5 years, ii) they had provided hands-on personal care, and iii) an estimate of the hours of care provided in the last year of life. The unit cost for a community-based homecare worker was applied (~£24/hour, 2017). Descriptive statistics are presented.
Results: 521/7997 (6.5%) respondents gave an estimated minimum 403,616 hours (median 186; IQR 26 to 730; range 1 to 8760) and maximum 477,902 hours (288; 52 to 936; 1 to 8760) personal care. Minimum and maximum total costs for personal care provided were £9,668,256 and £11,469,648 respectively. Assuming an English population ⩾16 years of 44,981,459 (2017) this represents national costs for informal personal care in the last year of life of between £0.84 billion and £1.00 billion.
Conclusions: This is a first representative UK population level unit costs estimate of informal personal care in their last year of life. We did not consider lost work opportunities, out of pocket costs, true costs or state benefits received, but does demonstrate the extent to which patients are dependent on the support from family and friends in order to be cared for at home.
Abstract ID: OA07:02
Abstract type: Oral Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | OA07:01 |
| Journal | Palliative Medicine |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 10 May 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2022 |