Table 3 Patient and proxy characteristics

 G-01

Diagnosed with COPD, epilepsy and arthrosis. Also G-01 had pain, and anxiety about dying. G-01 had few family connections and lost all friends. For the patient’s social life, the staff was important. The patient’s brother and spouse brought visits. G-01’s regretted how G-01 treated the spouse. Now that pain medication was effective, using cannabis became unnecessary. G-01 also used cocaine for five years, but regretted this. G-01 finished elementary school and had been homeless for three years. This interview lasted one hour and 25 min.

 G-02

Diagnosed with COPD, cirrhosis of the liver and chronic hepatitis C. Also G-02 was suffering from cachexia, OCD and pain. G-02 was single and reunited with the own children. This patient was on friendly terms with co-patients. G-02 was still dependent on Methadone and used high doses of pain medication. This patient stated to be “addicted to addictions” and to had “used everything” in the past. G-02 finished extended primary education and mentioned a criminal history. Two interviews of 1,5 h were held.

 G-03

G-03 had COPD and visited kidney dialysis. Also G-03 suffered from pain and sleeping and stress disorders. This patient was single and in touch with siblings, however, kept them on distance. G-02 stated to need sedatives as co-patients are found to be very annoying. Also G-03 still used much pain medication. This patient used to drink alcohol “as a habit”. Nowadays, G-03 would not state to be an addict, although thought this was actually the case. G-03 finished higher education. Two interviews of 1,5 h approximately were held.

 G-04

This patient is diagnosed with COPD and scared of suffocation. G-04 was single and lost many friends, since disease, however was still in touch with the own mother. G-04 was on Methadone and still used weed every other day. G-04 used heroin to switch off mental pain, however, this was not needed anymore. Furthermore, this patient tried coke and LSD. G-04 did not think to be addicted anymore. This respondent finished extended primary education and had been homeless for ten years. Interviewing lasted 70 min.

 G-05

Diagnosed with COPD, heart failure and bipolar disorder. Also G-05 had anemia and arthrosis. G-05 spent much of the time laying on bed, being in pain. This patient was divorced, but was in touch again with children and sister. Currently G-05 used painkillers and sedatives on which G-05 stated to be addicted out of necessity. In the past, G-05 used cocaine and cannabis and was “heavily addicted”. G-05 finished extended primary education and had been homeless for ten years. The interview lasted 28 min.

 G-06

Diagnosed with COPD, chronic hepatitis C, chronic aspergilloma and underweight. This patient is single and barely had friends or family, but was well acquainted with people from the local pub. G-06 still used alcohol and Methadone and, few times a month, cocaine. In the past G-06 used heroine and many other substances. G-06 was not ashamed to still being addicted. G-06 finished extended primary education, was homeless for ten years and stated to had been in trouble with the law a few times. The interview lasted 63 min.

 G-07

G-07 had COPD and cirrhosis of the liver. G-07 lay in bed most of the time. This patient had psychological problems, but no official diagnosis. G-07 was single and had no social network, except for a mentor. Nowadays, G-07 still used cannabis, hash and beer and stated to “never get rid” of this. Previously, G-07 also used heroin and opiates. This patient finished extended primary education. The interview was impeded and lasted only 35 min as G-07 only just met the inclusion criteria: talking was unclear as there appeared to be cognitive damage.

 G-08

G-08 had COPD and was undernourished and in pain. Furthermore, G-08 was restless, sad, anxious and stated to hear voices. G-08 regretted to have moved to the current place. G-08 was single and had one befriended co-patient and one son, but they did not see each other much. In the past, G-08 used opiates and recently quit using alcohol. This patient stated to be still addicted to medication. G-08 finished extended primary education. This interview took 35 min.

 G-09

This respondent was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and was in much emotional pain about the past. G-09 was married and in touch with some of the foster and grandchildren. For them, G-09 wanted to stop using alcohol. G-09 stated to be still addicted. This patient finished higher education. This interview lasted over hundred minutes.

 H-01

 H-02

These proxies were a child and a patient’s ex-partner. The patient could not be interviewed as a result of being cognitively and verbally disabled by Korsakov. The patient was admitted to a nursing home and was suffering from cancer of the throat with metastases. Furthermore, the patient seemed to be emotionally down, and, as tremors were worsening, seemed to be in pain. Also the patient was increasingly short of breath and needed much bed rest. The patient’s social life was limited. The patient used much alcohol, but, nowadays stopped drinking. The proxies would not call the patient addicted anymore. The proxies provided practical and emotional support. Despite having a complex history with the parent, H-02 found peace. The ex-partner, H-01, was more emotional distant. The interview lasted over hundred minutes.

 H-03

This proxy was in emotional pain and needed to learn how to cope with the past experiences with the patient (H-03’s spouse) and how to redesign their relation. The spouse, now, finally expressed regrets of neglecting and abusing H-03. This respondent wanted to tell “the other side of the story” and stated to need to talk and ventilate. The interview lasted 143 min.