Changes in place of death among people with dementia in Finland between 1998 and 2013: A register study

INTRODUCTION: The place of death is suggested as a quality indicator for end-of-life care. We investigated how the place of death changed between 1998 and 2013 among people with dementia. METHODS: Data from the Finnish national health and social care registers were extracted for all people with dementia, who had died at 70 years old during these years (N = 140,034). Descriptive analysis and logistic regression analysis were conducted. RESULTS: In 2013, the most common place of death was the primary care hospital (39.8%), followed by nursing home and sheltered housing with 24-hour assistance (20.5%). Dying at home was rare (8.1%). During the study years, dying in the hospital decreased while dying in sheltered housing with 24-hour assistance increased. DISCUSSION: The place of death for people with dementia has changed from institutions to noninstitutional care facilities. Further research on noninstitutional care facilities' ability to provide high-quality care at the end of life is needed.