Only a Third Who Express a Preference to Die at Home, Actually Die at Home

There is a well-known discrepancy between people's preferences to die at home and their likelihood to actually die at home.  This has already been measured several times.  Now, there is additional confirmation.



Last week, the UK Office of National Statistics released a statistical bulletin: National Survey of Bereaved People (VOICES), 2013.  The reports finds that only one third of people (35%) who express a preference to die at home, actually die at home.  And quality of care was rated significantly lower for people who died in a hospital, compared to people dying at home, in a hospice or care home.