BackgroundSAIATU is a program of specially trained in-home social assistance and companionship which, since February 2011, has provided support to end-of-life patients, enabling the delivery of better clinical care by healthcare professionals in Osakidetza (Basque Health Service), in Guipúzcoa (Autonomous Community of the Basque Country).In January 2012, a retrospective observational study was carried out, with the aim of describing the characteristics of the service and determining if the new social service and the associated socio-health co-ordination had produced any effect on the use of healthcare resources by end-of-life patients.The results of a comparison of a cohort of cases and controls demonstrated evidence that the program could reduce the use of hospital resources and promote the continuation of living at home, increasing the home-based activity of primary care professionals.The objective of this study is to analyse whether a program of social intervention in palliative care (SAIATU) results in a reduction in the consumption of healthcare resources and cost by end-of-life patients and promotes a shift towards a more community-based model of care.Method/designComparative prospective cohort study, with randomised selection of patients, which will systematically measure patient characteristics and their consumption of resources in the last 30 days of life, with and without the intervention of a social support team trained to provide in-home end-of-life care.For a sample of approximately 150 patients, data regarding the consumption of public healthcare resources, SAIATU activity, home hospitalisation teams, and palliative care will be recorded. Such data will also include information dealing with the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients and attending carers, as well as particular characteristics of patient outcomes (Karnofsky Index), and of the outcomes of palliative care received (Palliative Outcome Scale).Ethical approval for the study was given by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Euskadi (CREC-C) on 10 Dec 2012.DiscussionThe results of this prospective study will assist in verifying or disproving the hypothesis that the in-home social care offered by SAIATU improves the efficiency of healthcare resource usage by these patients (quality of life, symptom control).This project represents a dramatic advance with respect to other studies conducted to date, and demonstrates how, through the provision of personnel trained to provide social care for patients in the advanced stages of illness, and through strengthening the co-ordination of such social services with existing healthcare system resources, the resulting holistic structure obtains cost savings within the health system and improves the efficiency of the system as a whole.

Building a narrative on how people approach death and Dying. The experience of Getxo Zurekin.

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Introduction:SAIATU is a program of specially trained in-home social assistance and companionship, which provided support to end-of-life patients in Gipuzkoa, Spain. Collaboration with other palliative care resources is a key element of the program designed to ensure comprehensive care through specialized social support, facilitate in-home care and meet the wishes of patients who prefer to die at home and their families, alleviating pain and offering accompaniment and support in the care of physical symptoms, as well as emotional and social needs.

Introduction: In the face of a growing ageing population and rising care needs, compassionate communities seek to visualize the community as an equal partner in the complex task of providing quality social and health care at the end of life. Description: Getxo Zurekin is a social innovation example for the creation of a compassionate community in Getxo, one of the most populated cities in the province of Biscay, with 25.46% of its population aged over 65. Mixed methodologies have been applied, active listening and co-creation of actions and strategies towards improving care and quality of life for people and families facing advanced disease and end of life situations, with more than 80 people interviewed to conform the basis for a collective sense making. The initiative has reached more than 1,000 people in Getxo. Discussion: Following a systemic approach, horizontal relationships and cross-sectoral collaborations have allowed engaging the active involvement of local agents in the collective sense making and co- creation process. Conclusion: Getxo Zurekin represents an example of a participatory action research model, which has shown to be effective to meet initial targets towards creation of a compassionate community.