Experiences with Palliative Care in Rural Regions in Germany

A description of the historical development of outpatient palliative care in Germany is followed by a presentation of the specifics of rural care provision. Drawing on this situation, the authors describe an established network model, which can assure the type of care that patients and their relatives in rural areas want and which allows dying in dignity at home to be an option for the majority of affected patients, in line with their wishes.