Table 2 Characteristics of family members and the deceased

Age in years M ± SD

33

62.9 ± 12.6

Female gender [yes] n (%)

35

16 (45.7)

Religionn (%)

34

Catholic

25 (73.5)

Undenominational

9 (26.5)

Birthplace in Middle-Europen (%)

35

29 (82.9)

Highest degreen (%)

35

Vocational training

17 (48.6)

Diploma

10 (28.6)

University degree (≥ Bachelors’ Degree)

8 (22.9)

Work statusn (%)

33

Employed

13 (39.4)

Retired

20 (60.6)

Employment level [0-100%] M ± SD

13

89.2 ± 18.9

Co-habiting with deceasedn (%)

35

28 (80.0)

Relation to deceased: the answering family member is…n (%)

35

Spouse / partner

27 (77.1)

Daughter / son

6 (17.1)

Mother / father

1 (2.9)

Sister / brother

1 (2.9)

Caregiver during illness trajectory [yes] n (%)

35

33 (94.3)

Time since loss in months M ± SD

35

3.5 ± 1.3

Death was expected by answering family member [yes] n (%)

35

29 (92.9)

Present at time of death [yes] n (%)

35

30 (85.7)

Own health problems [yes] n (%)

34

3 (8.8)

Importance of spirituality in own life [0-100] M ± SD

35

35.9 ± 28.7

Characteristics of the deceased

n

Metrics

Age in years M ± SD

35

70.1 ± 9.5

Female gender [yes] n (%)

35

19 (54.3)

Living situationn (%)

35

Alone

3 (8.6)

Spouse / partner

26 (74.3)

Family (> 2 persons)

6 (17.1)

Has children [yes] n (%)

35

28 (71.4)

Time between diagnosis and death in years M ± SD

34

5.3 ± 5.0

Primary place of care (last month) n (%)

30

Health institution¹

8 (26.7)

Home care¹

22 (73.3)

Place of deathn (%)

35

Health institution²

13 (37.1)

Home care²

22 (62.9)

Death at preferred place [yes] n (%)

35

27 (77.1)