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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
06:52
Assessment of Dependence in Activities of Daily Living Among Older Patients in an Acute Care Unit
Published on: September 30, 2020
Referral and utilization patterns for home-based palliative care services among older adults
Joohyun Chung1, Aaron Langlois2, TylaAnn Burger2
1Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 224 Skinner Hall651 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States. joohyunchung@umass.edu.
BMC Palliative Care
|June 11, 2026
Summary
Home-based palliative care (HPC) access shows disparities, with older, Medicare Part B insured patients more likely to receive it. Targeted strategies are needed to ensure equitable access to this vital service for all seriously ill individuals.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Health Services Research
- Palliative Care Medicine
Background:
- Home-based palliative care (HPC) enhances quality of life for serious illness patients but faces underutilization and access disparities in the U.S.
- A common misconception is that HPC is only for end-of-life care, limiting its broader application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate disparities in access to home-based palliative care (HPC).
- To compare demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who received HPC versus those referred but not enrolled.
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of 567 clinical records from a U.S. healthcare facility (2022-2023).
- Utilized descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Cox proportional hazards regression.
- Compared patient groups based on demographics and clinical factors.
Main Results:
- No significant gender or race disparities in HPC access were found.
- Significant differences observed in age (older patients more likely to receive HPC), insurance type (Medicare Part B favored), and referral source (larger hospitals).
Conclusions:
- Structural disparities in home-based palliative care access persist.
- Need for targeted strategies to improve equitable access to HPC services for all eligible patients.
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