What is known about unpaid carers who experience domestic abuse from those they care for at the end-of-life? A scoping review

Myall, Michelle, Dheensa, Sandi, Goodchild, Marion, Lund, Susi, O'Dwyer, Siobhan, Styles, Katy, Taylor, Sophia and Foster, Becky (2026) What is known about unpaid carers who experience domestic abuse from those they care for at the end-of-life? A scoping review. European Association of Palliative Care World Congress 2026, , Prague, Czech Republic. 13 - 16 May 2026.

Abstract

Background: many people at end-of-life (within the last year of life) depend on an unpaid carer to support them. The burden of caring is well-documented, and the role is often associated with poor health and adverse social and financial outcomes. Carers can also be at risk of domestic abuse from the person they care for. In England and Wales, one in ten domestic-homicide victims are female carers, with care-recipients perpetrating over 50% of cases. While some existing evidence indicates that unpaid carers experience abuse from people they care for, limited research exists on the experiences of those abused by perpetrators at end-of-life.

Aim: the aim of this scoping review is to explore what is currently known about domestic abuse within caregiving relationships where the perpetrator is receiving end-of-life care. It seeks to understand the experiences of unpaid carers and identify factors that shape the lives of carers who have experienced domestic abuse, including support needs and how these are met.

Methods: the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and the checklist for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses – Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) will be applied. A systematic search will be conducted across several databases, from 2000 to 2025. A search of the grey literature including work from charities, advocacy groups and policy organisations will also be carried out. Domestic abuse in institutional settings is excluded from the review.

Results: this presentation will highlight the key findings of the review including what evidence exists on the topic and where the research gaps are.

Discussion: review findings will contribute to the existing knowledge base on carers’ experiences of domestic abuse. We will build on these findings to co-produce guidance to improve professional support for carers experiencing domestic abuse, improving professionals’ ability to provide support, minimise harm and improve wellbeing.

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Contributors

Author: Michelle Myall

Author: Sophia Taylor

Author: Becky Foster

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