{
  "abstract": "Background Patients reaching the end-of-life, experiencing functional decline at home, are at risk of hospitalisation or hospice admission due to the inability of the patient or their exhausted carers to manage needs effectively. Community hospice nurses, lacking occupational therapy expertise, spend valuable time assessing and referring patients via complex processes to overwhelmed statutory services (Mueller, Arthur, Ivy, et al. Occup Ther Health Care. 2021;35(2):125-137). This underutilises potential for delivery of expert clinical interventions, whilst long waiting lists for statutory services delay attention to urgent needs. A Hospice UK grant made it possible to evidence the impact of integrating a specialist Occupational Therapist (OT) into our hospice Community Team (Güney Yılmaz, Yücel, Gintiliene. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2025 Jan 24:10499091251317139).Aim To employ and embed a Specialist Palliative OT within the hospice community team, delivering prompt rehabilitation input, enhancing patient choice, supporting caregiver well-being, optimising specialist clinical resources and fostering a more sustainable solution.Method An OT with palliative care experience was employed with supervision from a community nurse and the project lead. The community team learned the aims of the project and a fast, simple referral process was created. Patients identified on community nursing visits were referred to the OT in accordance with criteria. Shared office space and notes systems allowed for sound communication and collaborative working.Results Key measures were identified including response time, number of contacts and AKPS (Australia-modified Karnofsky Performance Scale). Initial data showed an average of 35 patients seen per month. Questionnaires completed by community team members explored confidence in addressing OT needs, time taken completing referrals, plus project feedback. Impact stories provided valuable commentary, supporting how the responsive, specialist input enhanced quality of life for patient and carer.Conclusion Integrating a specialist OT into the hospice community nursing team created a responsive, efficient service with the right skills in the right place at the right time (Holloway, O’Brien. End Life J. 2012; 2(2): 1–3), enhancing quality of life for the patient and care-giver, and reducing risk of admission.Funding St. James’s Place Charitable Foundation grant, managed by Hospice UK.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Mountbatten, Isle of Wight, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Mary Banks"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Mountbatten, Hampshire, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Jem Minto"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P-34 Dying at home with dignity: integration of a specialist occupational therapist in the hospice community nursing team",
  "uid": "be9d966f-6e8d-56af-8560-5f6c1b6faaa7"
}