Feasibility of a rural palliative supportive service

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Palliative Care
• Rural Health

Background:

• Rural palliative care faces challenges like service gaps and sustainability.
• Community capacity-building is recognized as essential but difficult to implement and sustain.
• Existing models struggle to address the unique needs of rural populations with life-limiting illnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test the feasibility of a Rural Palliative Supportive Service (RPaSS) for rural older adults with life-limiting chronic illnesses and their family caregivers.
• To identify potential outcomes and assess the acceptability of a home-based palliative care model in rural settings.
• To explore the effectiveness of a community-based research approach in delivering rural health services.

Main Methods:

• A nurse coordinator provided bi-weekly home visits, symptom management, teaching, referrals, psychosocial support, and advance care planning.
• Mixed-method data collection included visit patterns, healthcare utilization, and caregiver/participant needs assessments.
• A community-based advisory committee collaborated on study design and implementation.

Main Results:

• The RPaSS model demonstrated feasibility, with high participant acceptability and minimal attrition.
• Service capacity was reached, indicating demand for such services in rural areas.
• Home visits focused on chronic disease management and symptom support, with assessments aiding communication.

Conclusions:

• Home-based palliative care services are feasible for rural older adults with chronic illnesses.
• The RPaSS model can improve quality of life and facilitate care transitions through consistent support and education.
• A community capacity-building approach may enhance the sustainability of rural palliative care services.