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Dobbs D, Yauk J, Vogel CE, Fanfan D, Buck H, Haley WE, Meng H. Feasibility of the Palliative Care Education in Assisted Living Intervention for Dementia Care Providers: A Cluster Randomized Trial. THE GERONTOLOGIST 2024; 64:gnad018. [PMID: 36842068 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnad018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) is a major cause of death in the United States. While effective interventions have been developed to deliver palliative care to nursing home residents with ADRD, little work has identified effective interventions to reach assisted living (AL) residents with dementia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS One hundred and eighteen AL residents with dementia from 10 different ALs in Florida participated. A pilot study using a cluster randomized trial was conducted, with 6 sites randomized to receive a palliative care educational intervention for staff (N = 23) to deliver care to residents; 4 sites were usual care. The feasibility of the intervention was assessed by examining recruitment, retention, and treatment fidelity at 6 months. Cohen's d statistic was used to calculate facility-level treatment effect sizes on key outcomes (documentation of advance care planning [ACP] discussions, hospice admission, and documentation of pain screening). RESULTS The intervention proved feasible with high ratings of treatment fidelity. The intervention also demonstrated preliminary evidence for efficacy of the intervention, with effect sizes for the treatment group over 0.80 for increases in documentation of ACP discussions compared to the control group. Hospice admissions had a smaller effect size (0.16) and documentation of pain screenings had no effect. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS The pilot results suggest that the intervention shows promise as a resource for educating and empowering AL staff on implementing person-centered palliative care delivery to persons with dementia in AL. A larger, fully powered randomized trial is needed to test for its efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra Dobbs
- School of Aging Studies, Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Jessica Yauk
- School of Aging Studies, Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Carlyn E Vogel
- School of Aging Studies, Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Dany Fanfan
- College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Harleah Buck
- College of Nursing, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - William E Haley
- School of Aging Studies, Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Hongdao Meng
- School of Aging Studies, Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
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Huang YL, Yates P, Thorberg FA, Wu CJJ. Influence of social interactions, professional supports and fear of death on adults' preferences for life-sustaining treatments and palliative care. Int J Nurs Pract 2021; 28:e12940. [PMID: 33826202 DOI: 10.1111/ijn.12940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIM To explore the significance of culture, professional support in the community, social interactions and intrapersonal determinants of adults' preferences for life-sustaining treatments and palliative care. METHODS A cross-sectional design with a Social Ecological Model was used. Between 1 October 2012 and 31 December 2012, 474 adults aged ≥20 years living in a city of Southern Taiwan completed the survey. Data were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression. RESULTS The life-sustaining measures model was significant with 15.3% (p < 0.0001) of the variance in the Modified Emmanuel Medical Directives being explained by variables of death of self and healthcare services' support. The palliative care model was significant with 18% (p < 0.0001) of the variance in the Modified Hospice Attitude Scale being explained by variables of palliative care knowledge, death of self and social interactions. However, cultural value adherence did not predict adults' preferences for life-sustaining measures and community resources support did not predict palliative care preference. CONCLUSIONS Findings enhance our understanding of the significance of different societal levels on adults' preferences for end-of-life care. Palliative care knowledge, fear of death, healthcare services' support and social interactions are essential factors that need to be taken into consideration when it comes to discussion about life-sustaining treatments and palliative care. SUMMARY STATEMENT What is already known about this topic? End-of-life (EOL) preferences can be shaped not just by knowledge, values and individuals' attitudes but rather a host of social influences. Few studies with theoretical frameworks or models in the literature are available to provide a comprehensive understanding of factors contributing to responses at the EOL. What this paper adds? The findings advance the knowledge of the influence of social interactions, healthcare services' support, palliative care understanding and fear of death on adults' preferences for life-sustaining treatments and palliative care. The identified relationships in the context of life-sustaining treatments and palliative care provide practical guidelines, which can help to inform appropriate supportive interventions for EOL care planning. The implications of this paper: Healthcare services that provide a mediating structure where a person belongs should focus on enhancing community resources regarding EOL healthcare planning, knowledge about palliative care and reinforcing life and death education. The social support network and emotional ties with a person's significant others should also be taken into consideration to facilitate EOL healthcare planning and to promote good quality of life at EOL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ling Huang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Patsy Yates
- Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Fred Arne Thorberg
- School of Psychology, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.,School of Psychology and Counseling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Chiung-Jung Jo Wu
- School of Nursing, Midwifery, and Paramedicine, University of the Sunshine Coast, Petrie, Queensland, Australia.,Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Travis LJ, Thomas KS, Clark MA, Belanger E. Organizational Characteristics of Assisted Living Communities With Policies Supportive of Admitting and Retaining Residents in Need of End-of-Life Care. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2020; 38:947-953. [PMID: 33089696 DOI: 10.1177/1049909120968254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There has been a rapid increase in the number of residential care/assisted living communities (RC/AL) that allow residents to die in place. The objective of this study was to examine the organizational characteristics of RC/AL communities that are associated with facility-level policies supportive of admitting and retaining residents in need of end-of-life (EOL) care. METHODS We used cross-sectional data from the 2010 National Survey of Residential Care Facilities. Organizational characteristics included structural factors, staffing levels, and other relevant facility-level policies. We examined descriptive statistics, binomial and multivariable multinomial regression models to determine the likelihood of 1) admitting and retaining, or 2) only retaining, as compared to 3) neither admitting nor retaining AL residents in need of EOL care. RESULTS A majority of residential care facilities 73.7% (n = 22,642) reported admitting and retaining residents at EOL. Yet, levels of skilled nursing care were generally low with 60.9% of these RC/AL communities reporting that registered nurses were not available, including hospice staff. In multivariable, multinomial regression models, organizational characteristics such as skilled nursing, hands-on contact hours from personal care aides, and policies allowing exemptions to self-evacuation rules were associated with increased likelihood of RC/AL communities admitting/retaining residents in need of EOL care. CONCLUSION Despite overall low levels of skilled nursing care, a nationally representative survey revealed that a majority of RC/AL communities admit and retain residents in need of EOL care. Staffing and exemptions from self-evacuation policies appear to be central characteristics associated with the provision of these services in RC/AL communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kali S Thomas
- 174610Brown University School of Public Health, Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI
| | | | - Emmanuelle Belanger
- 174610Brown University School of Public Health, Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research
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Thomas KS, Belanger E, Zhang W, Carder P. State Variability in Assisted Living Residents' End-of-Life Care Trajectories. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2020; 21:415-419. [PMID: 31704224 PMCID: PMC9891318 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2019.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A growing and increasingly vulnerable population resides in assisted living. States are responsible for regulating assisted living and vary in their requirements. Little is known about how this variability translates to differences in the dying experiences of assisted living residents. The objective of this study is to describe assisted living residents' end-of-life care trajectories and how they vary by state. DESIGN Observational retrospective cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Using Medicare data and a methodology developed to identify beneficiaries residing in larger assisted living communities (25+ beds), we identified a cohort of 40,359 assisted living residents in the continental United States enrolled in traditional Medicare and who died in 2016. METHODS We used Medicare data and the Residential History File to examine assisted living residents' locations of care and services received in the last 30 days of life. RESULTS Nationally, 57% of our cohort died outside of an institutional setting, that is, hospital or nursing home (n = 23,165), 18,396 of whom received hospice at the time of death. Rates of hospitalization and transition to a nursing home increased during the last 30 days of life. We observed significant interstate variability in the adjusted number of days spent in assisted living in the month before death [from 13.6 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.8, 15.4) in North Dakota to 24.0 days (95% CI 22.7, 25.2) in Utah] and wider variation in the adjusted number of days receiving hospice in the last month of life, ranging from 2.1 days (95% CI 1.0, 3.2) in North Dakota to 13.8 days (95% CI 12.1, 15.5) in Utah. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Findings suggest that assisted living residents' dying trajectories vary significantly by state. To ensure optimal end-of-life outcomes for assisted living residents, state policy makers should consider how their regulations influence end-of-life care in assisted living, and future research should examine factors (eg, state regulations, market characteristics, provider characteristics) that may enable assisted living residents to die in place and contribute to differential access to hospice services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kali S. Thomas
- Brown University School of Public Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI
| | | | - Wenhan Zhang
- Brown University School of Public Health, Paula Carder PhD Portland State University
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Perry LM, Hoerger M, Malhotra S, Gerhart JI, Mohile S, Duberstein PR. Development and Validation of the Palliative Care Attitudes Scale (PCAS-9): A Measure of Patient Attitudes Toward Palliative Care. J Pain Symptom Manage 2020; 59:293-301.e8. [PMID: 31539604 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Palliative Care is underutilized, and research has neglected patient-level factors including attitudes that could contribute to avoidance or acceptance of Palliative Care referrals. This may be due in part to a lack of existing measures for this purpose. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to develop and validate a nine-item scale measuring patient attitudes toward Palliative Care, comprised of three subscales spanning emotional, cognitive, and behavioral factors. METHODS Data were collected online in three separate waves, targeting individuals with cancer (Sample 1: N = 633; Sample 2: N = 462) or noncancer serious illnesses (Sample 3: N = 225). Participants were recruited using ResearchMatch.org and postings on the web sites, social media pages, and listservs of international health organizations. RESULTS Internal consistency was acceptable for the total scale (α = 0.84) and subscales: emotional (α = 0.84), cognitive (αs = 0.70), and behavioral (α = 0.90). The PCAS-9 was significantly associated with a separate measure of Palliative Care attitudes (ps < 0.001) and a measure of Palliative Care knowledge (ps < 0.004), supporting its construct validity in samples of cancer and noncancer serious illnesses. The scale's psychometric properties, including internal consistency and factor structure, generalized across patient subgroups based on diagnosis, other health characteristics, and demographics. CONCLUSION Findings support the overall reliability, validity, and generalizability of the PCAS-9 in serious illness samples and have implications for increasing Palliative Care utilization via clinical care and future research efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Perry
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
| | - Michael Hoerger
- Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Sonia Malhotra
- Department of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Section of Palliative Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - James I Gerhart
- Department of Psychology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USA
| | - Supriya Mohile
- James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Paul R Duberstein
- Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy, Rutgers University School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
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Dys S, Smith L, Tunalilar O, Carder P. Revisiting the Role of Physicians in Assisted Living and Residential Care Settings. Gerontol Geriatr Med 2020; 6:2333721420979840. [PMID: 33354590 PMCID: PMC7734500 DOI: 10.1177/2333721420979840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
As the United States population ages, a higher share of adults is likely to use long-term services and supports. This change increases physicians' need for information about assisted living and residential care (AL/RC) settings, which provide supportive care and housing to older adults. Unlike skilled nursing facilities, states regulate AL/RC settings through varying licensure requirements enforced by state agencies, resulting in differences in the availability of medical and nursing services. Where some settings provide limited skilled nursing care, in others, residents rely on resident care coordinators, or their own physicians to oversee chronic conditions, medications, and treatments. The following narrative review describes key processes of care where physicians may interact with AL/RC operators, staff, and residents, including care planning, managing Alzheimer's disease and related conditions, medication management, and end-of-life planning. Communication and collaboration between physicians and AL/RC operators are a crucial component of care management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Dys
- Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
- Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Lindsey Smith
- Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
- Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | - Paula Carder
- Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
- Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA
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7
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Improving palliative care through teamwork (IMPACTT) in nursing homes: Study design and baseline findings. Contemp Clin Trials 2017; 56:1-8. [PMID: 28315478 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2017.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 2014 Institute of Medicine report recommended that healthcare providers caring for individuals with advanced illness have basic palliative care competencies in communication, inter-professional collaboration, and symptom management. Nursing homes, where one in three American decedents live and die, have fallen short of these competency goals. We implemented an intervention study to examine the efficacy of nursing home-based integrated palliative care teams in improving the quality of care processes and outcomes for residents at the end of life. METHODS/DESIGN This paper describes the design, rationale, and challenges of a two-arm randomized controlled trial of nursing home-based palliative care teams in 31 facilities. The impact of the intervention on residents' outcomes is measured with four risk-adjusted quality indicators: place of death (nursing home or hospital), number of hospitalizations, and self-reported pain and depression in the last 90-days of life. The effect of the intervention is also evaluated with regard to staff satisfaction and impact on care processes (e.g. palliative care competency, communication, coordination). Both secondary (e.g. the Minimum Data Set) and primary (e.g. staff surveys) data are employed to examine the effect of the intervention. DISCUSSION Several challenges in conducting a complex, nursing home-based intervention have been identified. While sustainability of the intervention without research funding is not clear, we surmise that without changes to the payment model that put palliative care services in this care setting on par with the more "skilled" care, it will not be reasonable to expect any widespread efforts to implement facility-based palliative care services.
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8
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Temkin-Greener H, Li Q, Li Y, Segelman M, Mukamel DB. End-of-Life Care in Nursing Homes: From Care Processes to Quality. J Palliat Med 2016; 19:1304-1311. [PMID: 27529742 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2016.0093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE Nursing homes (NHs) are an important setting for the provision of palliative and end-of-life (EOL) care. Excessive reliance on hospitalizations at EOL and infrequent enrollment in hospice are key quality concerns in this setting. We examined the association between communication-among NH providers and between providers and residents/family members-and two EOL quality measures (QMs): in-hospital deaths and hospice use. DESIGN AND METHODS We developed two measures of communication by using a survey tool implemented in a random sample of U.S. NHs in 2011-12. Using secondary data (Minimum Data Set, Medicare, and hospice claims), we developed two risk-adjusted quality metrics for in-hospital death and hospice use. In the 1201 NHs, which completed the survey, we identified 54,526 residents, age 65+, who died in 2011. Psychometric assessment of the two communication measures included principal factor and internal consistency reliability analyses. Random-effect logistic and weighted least-square regression models were estimated to develop facility-level risk-adjusted QMs, and to assess the effect of communication measures on the quality metrics. RESULTS Better communication with residents/family members was statistically significantly (p = 0.015) associated with fewer in-hospital deaths. However, better communication among providers was significantly (p = 0.006) associated with lower use of hospice. CONCLUSIONS Investing in NHs to improve communication between providers and residents/family may lead to fewer in-hospital deaths. Improved communication between providers appears to reduce, rather than increase, NH-to-hospice referrals. The actual impact of improved provider communication on residents' EOL care quality needs to be better understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Temkin-Greener
- 1 Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , Rochester, New York
| | - Qinghua Li
- 2 RTI International, Waltham, Massachusetts
| | - Yue Li
- 1 Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , Rochester, New York
| | | | - Dana B Mukamel
- 3 Department of Medicine, University of California , Irvine, California
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Ball MM, Kemp CL, Hollingsworth C, Perkins MM. "This is our last stop": Negotiating end-of-life transitions in assisted living. J Aging Stud 2014; 30:1-13. [PMID: 24984903 PMCID: PMC4082797 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaging.2014.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2013] [Revised: 02/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Where people die has important implications for end-of-life (EOL) care. Assisted living (AL) increasingly is becoming a site of EOL care and a place where people die. AL residents are moving in older and sicker and with more complex care needs, yet AL remains largely a non-medical care setting that subscribes to a social rather than medical model of care. The aims of this paper are to add to the limited knowledge of how EOL is perceived, experienced, and managed in AL and to learn how individual, facility, and community factors influence these perceptions and experiences. Using qualitative methods and a grounded theory approach to study eight diverse AL settings, we present a preliminary model for how EOL care transitions are negotiated in AL that depicts the range of multilevel intersecting factors that shape EOL processes and events in AL. Facilities developed what we refer to as an EOL presence, which varied across and within settings depending on multiple influences, including, notably, the dying trajectories and care arrangements of residents at EOL, the prevalence of death and dying in a facility, and the attitudes and responses of individuals and facilities toward EOL processes and events, including how deaths were communicated and formally acknowledged and the impact of death and dying on the residents and staff. Our findings indicate that in the majority of cases, EOL care must be supported by collaborative arrangements of care partners and that hospice care is a critical component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary M Ball
- Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.
| | - Candace L Kemp
- The Gerontology Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States.
| | - Carole Hollingsworth
- The Gerontology Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, United States.
| | - Molly M Perkins
- Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States; Atlanta Site, Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric, Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Atlanta, GA, United States; Atlanta VA Medical Center, Atlanta, GA, United States.
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10
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Matsui M, Kanai E, Kitagawa A, Hattori K. Care managers' views on death and caring for older cancer patients in Japan. Int J Palliat Nurs 2013; 19:606-11. [DOI: 10.12968/ijpn.2013.19.12.606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Miho Matsui
- Nara Medical University, School of Nursing, 840 Shijo-Cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan 634-8521
| | - Emi Kanai
- Nara Medical University Hospital, Kashihara, Japan
| | | | - Keiko Hattori
- Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Kurashiki, Japan
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Thompson SA, Bott M, Gajewski B, Tilden VP. Quality of care and quality of dying in nursing homes: two measurement models. J Palliat Med 2012; 15:690-5. [PMID: 22551446 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2011.0497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is consistent evidence of significant variation in the quality of end-of-life care among nursing homes, with many facilities ill-prepared to provide optimal physical and psychological care that is culturally sensitive and respectful of the needs and preferences of residents and their family members. There is continued evidence that what is impeding efforts to improve care is that most measurement tools are hampered by a lack of distinction between quality of care and quality of dying as well as a lack of complete psychometric evaluation. Further, health services researchers cite the need to include "system-level" factors, variables that reflect leadership, culture, or informal practices, all of which influence end-of-life care and can be used to differentiate one setting from another. The purpose of this article is to report advancement in conceptualizing quality end-of-life care in nursing homes and to offer a refined approach to measurement. METHODS Two latent constructs are tested: quality of care (composed of system-level factors) and quality of dying (comprised of resident/family outcomes). Data obtained from 85 Midwestern nursing homes and 1282 interviews with bereaved family members were used to evaluate both constructs. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted and evidence of validity and reliability were obtained for both. CONCLUSION For health services researchers, expanded models that include system-level factors as well as more comprehensive and psychometrically sound models of resident outcomes stand to inform efforts to improve care in this very important area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Thompson
- College of Nursing, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska 68198-5330, USA.
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Park NS, Carrion IV, Lee BS, Dobbs D, Shin HJ, Becker MA. The role of race and ethnicity in predicting length of hospice care among older adults. J Palliat Med 2012; 15:149-53. [PMID: 22313431 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2011.0220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of the study was to examine both direct and interactive roles of race/ethnicity with patients' characteristics (age, gender, relationship with caregiver, diagnosis, referral source, and payment type) in predicting length of hospice care. METHOD This study included a total of 16,323 patients 65 years of age and older (M(age)=81.4, SD=8.3) who were served by a hospice in central Florida during a four-year period, 2002-2006. Survival analyses were conducted using the Cox proportional hazards model to predict the length of hospice care and test the interaction effects of race/ethnicity. RESULTS The majority of subjects (83.5%) were white, 7.6% were African-American, and 8.9% were Hispanic. During the study period, 58.5% died. All patient characteristics were significantly associated with the length of hospice care (p < .05). Overall, Hispanics had the longest hospice stay (M=98.84 days), followed by African-Americans (M=90.29) and whites (M=88.20). With the exception of African-American women who were no more likely to stay longer under hospice care than African-American men, the women in this study stayed longer under hospice care than men did. Patients referred from long-term care (LTC) settings had shorter stays in hospice care compared to those referred by physicians in other settings. Additionally, African-Americans and Hispanics referred from LTC had significantly shorter hospice stays than those referred by primary physicians. CONCLUSION In this limited sample of hospice patients, length of stay was longer for minority patients than white patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan S Park
- University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
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The effect of Medicaid nursing home reimbursement policy on Medicare hospice use in nursing homes. Med Care 2011; 49:797-802. [PMID: 21862905 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0b013e318223c0ae] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To understand how changes in Medicaid nursing home (NH) reimbursement policy and rates affect a NH's approach to end-of-life care (ie, its use of hospice). METHODS This longitudinal study merged US NH decedents' (1999 to 2004) resident assessment data (MDS) with Part A claims data to determine the proportion of a NH's decedents using hospice. Freestanding NHs across the 48 contiguous US states were included. A NH-level analytic file was merged with NH survey (ie, OSCAR) and area resource file data, and with annual data on state Medicaid NH rates, case-mix reimbursement policies, and hospice certificate of need (CON). NH fixed-effect (within) regression analysis examined the effect of changing state policies, controlling for differing time trends in CON and case-mix states and for facility-level and county-level attributes. Models were stratified by urban/rural status. RESULTS A $10 increase in the Medicaid rate resulted in a 0.41% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.275, 0.553] increase in hospice use in urban NHs and a 0.37% decrease (95% CI: -0.676, -0.063) in rural NHs not adjacent to urban areas. There was a nonstatistically significant increase in rural NHs adjacent to urban areas. Introduction of case-mix reimbursement resulted in a 2.14% (95% CI: 1.388, 2.896) increase in hospice use in urban NHs, with comparable increases in rural NHs. CONCLUSIONS This study supports and extends previous research by showing changes in Medicaid NH reimbursement policies affect a NH's approach to end-of-life care. It also shows how policy changes can have differing effects depending on a NH's urban/rural status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Correll Munn
- College of Social Work, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
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15
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Huskamp HA, Kaufmann C, Stevenson DG. The Intersection of Long-Term Care and End-of-Life Care. Med Care Res Rev 2011; 69:3-44. [DOI: 10.1177/1077558711418518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
High-quality end-of-life care is an important component of high-quality long-term care, yet many elderly individuals receiving long-term care services do not obtain good care as they approach death. This study provides a systematic review of articles that describe care received at the nexus of long-term care and end-of-life care. The articles identified three primary types of barriers to high-quality end-of-life care in long-term care settings: delivery system barriers intrinsic to long-term care settings, barriers related to features of coverage and reimbursement, and barriers resulting from the current regulatory approach for long-term care providers. The authors recommend areas for future research that would help to support progress on public policy that governs the provision of care at this important intersection.
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Dobbs D, Meng H, Hyer K, Volicer L. The influence of hospice use on nursing home and hospital use in assisted living among dual-eligible enrollees. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2011; 13:189.e9-189.e13. [PMID: 21763210 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2011.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2011] [Revised: 06/01/2011] [Accepted: 06/01/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examined the impact of hospice enrollment on the probabilities of hospital and nursing home admissions among a sample of frail dual-eligible assisted living (AL) residents. DESIGN The study used a retrospective cohort design. We estimated bivariate probit models with 2 binary outcome variables: any hospital admissions and any nursing home admissions after assisted living enrollment. SETTING A total of 328 licensed AL communities accepting Medicaid waivers in Florida. PARTICIPANTS We identified all newly admitted dual-eligible AL residents in Florida between January and June of 2003 who had complete state assessment data (n = 658) and followed them for 6 to 12 months. MEASUREMENTS Using the Andersen behavioral model, predisposing (age, gender, race), enabling (marital status, available caregiver, hospice use), and need (ADL/IADL, comorbidity conditions, and incontinence) characteristics were included as predictors of 2 binary outcomes (hospital and nursing home admission). Demographics, functional status, and caregiver availability were obtained from the state client assessment database. Data on diagnosis and hospital, nursing home, and hospice use were obtained from Medicare and Medicaid claims. Death dates were obtained from the state vital statistics death certificate data. RESULTS The mean age of the study sample was 81.5 years. Three-fourths were female and 63% were White. The average resident had a combined ADL/IADL dependency score of 11.49. Fifty-eight percent of the sample had dementia. During the average 8.9-month follow-up period, 6.8% were enrolled in hospice and 10.2% died. Approximately 33% of the sample had been admitted into a hospital and 20% had been admitted into a nursing home. Bivariate probit models simultaneously predicting the likelihood of hospital and nursing home admissions showed that hospice enrollment was associated with lower likelihood of hospital (OR = 0.24, P < .01) and nursing home admissions (OR = 0.56, P < .05). Significant predictors of hospital admissions included higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score and incontinence. Predictors of nursing home admissions included higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score, the absence of available informal caregiver, and incontinence. CONCLUSIONS Hospice enrollment was associated with a lower likelihood of hospital and nursing home admissions, and, thus, may have allowed AL residents in need of palliative care to remain in the AL community. AL providers should support and facilitate hospice care among older frail dual-eligible AL residents. More research is needed to examine the impact of hospice care on resident quality of life and total health care expenditures among AL residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debra Dobbs
- Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging, School of Aging Studies, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
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Parker D, Hodgkinson B. A comparison of palliative care outcome measures used to assess the quality of palliative care provided in Residential Aged Care Facilities: a systematic review. JBI LIBRARY OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 2010; 8:90-120. [PMID: 27820164 DOI: 10.11124/01938924-201008030-00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Provision of palliative care in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) is important but limited research has been undertaken to investigate the most appropriate outcome measures for use in this setting. OBJECTIVE This systematic review aimed tomeasure the psychometric properties (reliability/validity) and feasibility of palliative outcome measures used to assess the quality of palliative care provided in residential aged care facilities. INCLUSION CRITERIA This review considered studies reporting on the psychometric properties of palliative care outcome measures that have been used in assessing the quality of palliative care provided in residential aged care facilities, including support to family. Measures may be those completed by a health professional, the person receiving care or their family. SEARCH STRATEGY The search strategy aimed to identify both English language published and unpublished studies. A three-step strategy was followed, in which the initial phase consisted of searches of the CINAHL, MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases using keywords or terms. Second, a more extensive search was performed using the appropriate Subject Headings and/or keywords/phrase/strategy for several major databases. Finally, the reference lists or bibliographies of identified reports and articles were hand searched for additional relevant studies. METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY Included studies were assessed by two independent reviewers for methodological quality prior to inclusion in the review using an appraisal checklist developed for the review based on the review methods of Zwakhalen et al to evaluate validity, reliability and feasibility. RESULTS The database and hand searches yielded 441 articles for review of which 17 were duplicates leaving 422 abstracts which were critically appraised for relevance to the review based on the title and abstract. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, twenty three abstracts were retained and full articles were retrieved for screening by the two authors. Of these twenty three articles, ten were included in the final review. The ten articles provide specific information on the psychometric properties of ten outcome measures. Of the ten included articles, four report on the psychometric properties of the outcome measure used exclusively within the residential aged care setting while the remaining six measures report the use in a sub-population. The Family Perceptions of Care Scale (FPCS) is considered by the authors as the most suitable outcome measure for use in RACFs. The FPCS has a number of properties that has led to its preferred selection, in particular the development and testing of the scale which occurred exclusively in the RACF population. This scale has excellent content validity, covering all essential domains of palliative care. It has a robust factor structure and is simple to administer and score. Of the remaining nine measures, a further two were also considered suitable for measuring quality of palliative care in RACFs. These are the Quality of Dying in Long Term Care (QOD-LTC) scale and the Toolkit Interview. CONCLUSION Based on psychometric qualities, the outcome measure of choice from this review is the Family Perceptions of Care Scale although further psychometric and clinical research needs to be conducted. Limitations regarding the use of outcome measures for assessing quality in this setting include reliance on proxy ratings and limited psychometric testing for some of the measures specifically in the RACF population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Parker
- 1. University of Queensland/Blue Care Research and Practice Development Centre, The Joanna Briggs Australian Centre for Evidence-Based Community Care (ACEBCC)
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Abstract
Involvement in a hospice program is important because it may allow individuals with dementia to delay or prevent institutionalization as well as provide psychosocial support for their families. Once used mostly by patients with a terminal cancer, now more than one half of the hospice patients have diagnoses other than cancer. Yet hospice is still underused for individuals dying with advanced dementia. We conducted a pilot study of hospice agencies to determine barriers and characteristics of dementia hospice enrollment. Using a mailed questionnaire and interview, we looked at demographics, accessibility, training, referral sources, and marketing. Our analysis divided the agencies based on dementia census and availability to non-Medicare eligible individuals. Results showed hospices having Bridge and Transition programs had on average 4 times higher Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia census than hospices without these programs. The highest rated barriers to hospice use for individuals with dementia were prognosis, education, and finance.
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Munn JC, Dobbs D, Meier A, Williams CS, Biola H, Zimmerman S. The end-of-life experience in long-term care: five themes identified from focus groups with residents, family members, and staff. THE GERONTOLOGIST 2008; 48:485-94. [PMID: 18728298 DOI: 10.1093/geront/48.4.485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We designed this study to examine the end-of-life (EOL) experience in long-term care (LTC) based on input from key stakeholders. DESIGN AND METHODS The study consisted of 10 homogeneous focus groups drawn from a purposive sample of LTC residents (2 groups; total n = 11), family caregivers (2 groups; total n = 19), paraprofessional staff (3 groups; total n = 20), and licensed/registered staff (3 groups; total n = 15) from five nursing homes and eight residential care/assisted living communities in North Carolina. We analyzed data by using grounded theory techniques to elicit manifest and latent themes. RESULTS Five overarching themes emerged: (a) components of a good death in LTC, (b) normalcy of dying in LTC, (c) the role of relationships in the provision and receipt of care, (d) hospice contributions to care at the EOL in LTC, and (e) stakeholder recommendations for enhancing EOL care in these settings. Underlying these themes was one central category, closeness, based on physical proximity and frequency of contact. IMPLICATIONS Findings suggest that promoting collaborative relationships among the four stakeholder groups, increasing social worker involvement, and removing barriers to hospice may enhance the EOL experience in LTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean C Munn
- College of Social Work, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2570, USA.
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Hodgson NA, Lehning AJ. Palliative care in nursing homes: a comparison of high- and low-level providers. Int J Palliat Nurs 2008; 14:38-44. [DOI: 10.12968/ijpn.2008.14.1.28152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy A Hodgson
- Polisher Research Institute, Abramson Center for Jewish Life, North Wales, Pa, USA
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