Naturalizing dying at home for older adults: A critical analysis of policy texts

Public policy initiatives, opinion surveys, and public rhetoric in Canada suggest people wish to die at home. Discourse analysis of statements, policies, reports, and websites of municipal, provincial, and federal governments show how public policy narratives reflect specific understandings of dying at home. Dying is positioned as best kept within the private home space. Though frequently framed as a choice, subtle rhetoric also prioritizes home as the ideal place for care at the end of life, and death. Home death preferences are naturalized as common-sense. Along with more nuance in policy communications, transparency in how evidence informs policy is needed. Les mesures de politiques publiques, les sondages d'opinion et le discours public au Canada laissent entendre que les gens souhaitent mourir chez eux. L'analyse du discours des declarations, des politiques, des rapports et des sites Web gouvernementaux au palier municipal, provincial et federal indique comment les recits de politiques publiques refletent des comprehensions particulieres sur le fait de mourir chez soi. La mort est preferable dans l'espace prive de la << maison >>. Bien que souvent presentee comme un choix, une rhetorique subtile donne egalement la priorite au domicile comme lieu ideal pour les soins en fin de vie et le deces. Les preferences en matiere de deces a domicile sont naturalisees comme du bon sens. Avec plus de nuances dans les communications de politiques, la transparence est necessaire dans la maniere dont les donnees probantes etayent les politiques.

Automated summary

Public policy initiatives, opinion surveys, and public rhetoric in Canada indicate that people prefer to die at home. The discourse and rhetoric emphasize home as the ideal place for care and death, naturalizing the preference for dying at home as common sense. More nuanced policy communications and transparency in evidence supporting policy are needed.