Aim: To define the unmet needs of activities of daily living as defined by patients and caregivers in a palliative care inpatient unit.
Methods: A cross-sectional prevalence study of a convenience cohort of a dyad of patient/caregiver. Functional status and unment needs were assessed. Agreement between respondents was analysed.
Results: Caregivers identified significantly more unmet needs than patients (2.5 vs 2.5; p = 0.03). Areas of unmet need included mobility, leisure and bathing.
Conclusion: Routine screening for unmet needs in function should be part of all inpatient palliative care assessments.