Bereaved Caregivers' Experiences with Advanced Heart Failure

Shedding light on the unseen struggles of caregivers in heart failure palliative care.

In a poignant new episode of the Oxford Brookes Unscripted podcast series, PhD student Melanie Diggle sheds light on the often-overlooked experiences of caregivers supporting loved ones with advanced heart failure. The episode delves into Melanie’s research, which focuses on the lived experiences of bereaved informal caregivers—family members and friends—who are faced with the immense challenges of end-of-life care for heart failure patients.

Melanie, an occupational therapist by training, brings over a decade of clinical experience into her research, driven by the urgent need to address gaps in palliative care support. Despite heart failure being a leading cause of hospital admissions among older adults, palliative care remains largely inaccessible for this group. According to Melanie, only 7% of heart failure patients receive specialist palliative care, compared to 48% of cancer patients.

The discussion explores the devastating impact on caregivers who often navigate this complex journey with little to no support, especially during the final stages of their loved one’s life. Melanie’s research is groundbreaking in its attempt to capture the full trajectory of caregiving, from diagnosis to bereavement, and highlights the pressing need for more comprehensive, tailored support services.

The episode offers listeners a deeper understanding of the burdens caregivers bear and calls for systemic changes to better integrate palliative care into heart failure treatment. This conversation is not just academic; it’s a powerful reminder of the human stories behind the statistics and a call to action for healthcare providers and policymakers.

Tune in to the full episode of Oxford Brookes Unscripted to learn more about how this crucial research could inform future healthcare practices.