Challenges in end-of-life and death care management in Portuguese residential care facilities: A qualitative study

Findings indicate that improving end-of-life care in RCFs requires prioritizing actionable institutional strategies, including clear protocols, early care planning, staff education in generalist end-of-life care, and structured collaboration with external palliative care teams for complex cases. Longer-term efforts are also needed to address cultural taboos surrounding death and to support professionals' emotional well-being.