A review article published in the Journal of Pain and Symptoms Management has found a number of benefits indicating that greater availability of hospice holds promise in the nursing home setting. Despite being relatively underutilized among nursing home residents, hospice in nursing homes can provide high quality end-of-life care and offers benefits such as reduced hospitalizations and improved pain management. The provision of hospice care in nursing homes has been shown to also have positive effects on nonhospice residents, suggesting indirect benefits on nursing home clinical practices.
In addition, the study’s authors found that nursing home hospice patients received the same high quality care as those hospice patients living in their own homes. Compared with similar residents not enrolled in hospice, previous studies reviewed by researchers found nursing home hospice patients were more likely to be assessed for pain, twice as likely to receive daily treatment for pain, and more likely to receive pain management in accordance with clinical guidelines. They were also less likely to require hospitalization in the final 30 days of life. Source: (“Hospice Care in Nursing Homes Offers Benefits to Residents at the End of Life, 2009, September 29.)