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BACKGROUND	It is projected that in Australia there will be between 28 % and 48 % of palliative care patients living alone by the year 2031 .
BACKGROUND	As such , it will become increasingly important to provide appropriate home-based care in order to support these patients to be cared for and die at home .
OBJECTIVE	This study explored the experiences of community-based palliative care cancer patients who live alone without a caregiver and what psychosocial issues they face .
METHODS	Face-to-face semistructured interviews were conducted with eight participants , and constant comparison was used for the analysis .
RESULTS	Four main themes emerged : ( 1 ) loss of social networks ; ( 2 ) maintaining independence ; ( 3 ) balancing independence and the need for assistance ; and ( 4 ) planning for the end of life .
CONCLUSIONS	Participants balanced independence with the need to accept help in order to maintain independence .
CONCLUSIONS	Participants became more flexible about their preferred place of death .
CONCLUSIONS	The practice implications for working with people close to death who are living alone are that supports and assistance may be needed to maintain social networks and also a sense of independence .

