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Hospice care in the nursing home
1Department of Family Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201, USA.
American Family Physician
|February 26, 1998
Summary
Hospice care, funded by the Medicare Hospice Benefit, offers specialized pain and symptom management for terminally ill patients in nursing homes. This benefit supplements existing care, easing the burden on staff and families during end-of-life processes.
Area of Science:
- Geriatrics
- Palliative Care
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Nursing homes often lack specialized services for terminally ill patients.
- Increasing demand for comprehensive end-of-life care within long-term care facilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the role and benefits of the Medicare Hospice Benefit in nursing home settings.
- To highlight how hospice care enhances palliative services for dying patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of services covered by the Medicare Hospice Benefit.
- Analysis of the interdisciplinary team's role in symptom management and patient support.
Main Results:
- The Medicare Hospice Benefit provides essential skills in pain and symptom control.
- It covers durable medical equipment and medications, reducing patient costs.
- Hospice teams offer crucial bereavement assistance to families and staff.
Conclusions:
- Hospice care significantly enhances palliative care delivery in nursing homes.
- The Medicare Hospice Benefit facilitates better management of complex end-of-life needs.
- It supports nursing home staff and physicians in providing comprehensive care to terminally ill patients.