Despite the fact that only 27 percent of all deaths occurred at home last year, a new survey has revealed that 77 percent of Singaporeans wish to breathe their last breath at home.
Commissioned by the Lien Foundation, the ‘Death Attitudes Survey’ seeks to examine death attitudes and perception of hospice palliative care, which refers to providing symptom relief and pain management care to terminally ill patients.
76 percent of the 1,000 respondents, especially those above 60 (94 percent), would still choose to die at home even without sufficient support from family, friends or medical professionals.
Lee Poh Wah, CEO of Lien Foundation, commented on the gap between our expectations and reality, “We will have a greater chance of dying at home — if our healthcare system is strongly geared towards hospice palliative care and it provides more professional and social support to meet patients’ preferences.”
71 percent of Singaporeans agreed with Lee, saying it’s important that such services be made readily available.
The survey also showed a growing receptivity towards hospice palliative care, with 76 percent saying they are open to receiving it themselves and 80 percent claiming they’ll get it for their loved ones.
Of the top priorities when death knocks on the door, 81 percent of Singaporeans value control over pain relief and other symptoms above everything else.
Photo: AFP
