Table 4.

Experiences of bereaved relatives about the appropriate place of death, stratified by setting.

Home (n = 68)	Yes, it was the right place (n = 62)
	This was her own wish
	She died at home, but without restricting measures she would have liked to be in a hospice. But home was fine too
	She wanted to die at home, it was however distressing that because of corona her own children and grandchildren who all live abroad could not be there. She died without her family around her.
	Hesitant (n = 3)
	Actually home was a good place, but without corona, she would have stayed in a hospice. Then the care that we provided would have been less for us. Now, the last phase was more burdensome for us in terms of providing care compared to when there was no corona.
Hospital (n = 114)	Yes, it was the right place (n = 67)
	My partner died in the hospital, where he was already being treated.
	We had no other choice, it just got bad really fast, especially his breathing was deteriorating very fast. The room on hospital ward [name hospital ward] was at that moment the place where it would happen. Any other place would not have changed the situation.
	No, it was not the right place (n = 17)
	There was no other choice. We were not allowed to visit until my partner had died. I think it should have been allowed to die peacefully in the presence of his loved ones.
	He would have preferred to die at home. He was already ill and (..), the hospitalization was necessary because of Corona but has kept us away from our father during most of the time in his last week . . . We would of course have preferred to surround him with our love and care and die in our arms instead of with a nurse. This remains very painful ..I think also for the nurse who cared for him. We were just too late . . .. We received a phone call at half past seven and fifteen minutes later it had already happened. . ..
	She wanted to die at home
	Hesitant (n = 17)
	It probably had been better for him to not go to the hospital. It was estimated that the complication could be treated, but how realistic was that?
	She would have preferred to be at home, but she had to stay in the hospital for care.
	Don’t know (n = 11)
	Medical facilities and care were available here [in the hospital]. The disadvantage, of course, were the restrictions in supporting our father.
	Of course, that is never the right place. But they let him go as comfortably as possible.
Nursing home (n = 176)	Yes, it was the right place (n = 117)
	This had been her home for the past 2.5 years.
	My mother was 87 and had dementia since several years. However, she still recognized her children and grandchildren. The place was okay (her room in the care facility) but the conditions were not.
	No, it was not the right place (n = 27)
	I would have wanted her to die at home.
	I could not be with my husband when he was still conscious. I was allowed to be there when it was clear that he was going to die, even though it had been clear for several days that things were not going well.
	If we had known this beforehand we would have taken him home. We were not allowed to go to him when things were bad.
	Hesitant (n = 17)
	My father did die in the right place but because we were allowed to visit him in such a limited way I wonder if this was the right place. If we had admitted him to the hospital, we would have been allowed to visit more and he would not have had to die alone. However, we did not make this choice because my father wanted to stay in his own apartment.
Hospice (n = 35)	Yes, it was the right place (n = 25)
	My sister indicated earlier in the process that she was ‘happy’ to die in hospice.
	No, it was not the right place (n = 5)
	We asked several times for admission to the hospital.
	Don’t know (n = 3)
	I didn’t want him to die alone in his room.