When people need care or can no longer cope with everyday life on their own, they often move into nursing homes. Nursing homes are an important setting for end-of-life care. It is estimated that between 60% and 90% of people living in nursing homes would benefit from palliative care. Palliative care in nursing homes is intended to help people with life-limiting illnesses enjoy the best possible quality of life.
Many people living in nursing homes have cognitive impairment or dementia as well as multiple medical conditions. As a result, recognizing the need for palliative care can be challenging. Additionally, staff often have limited resources due to increasing workloads and staffing challenges. Research has found that nursing home residents may receive less specialized outpatient palliative care than a comparable group living at home.
One key factor that may contribute to gaps in palliative care is a lack of specialized training. A recent cluster randomized study published in BMC Palliative Care examined whether additional staff qualifications could improve palliative care for nursing home residents. Training staff is a promising way to improve palliative care in nursing homes. Better-qualified staff may be better prepared to identify residents’ palliative care needs and address potential gaps in care.
Now is the time, let’s do this together! Education should not stop with staff. Residents and families also need information to help them understand palliative care and hospice. They may also need guidance as they face difficult decisions and changing care needs. HealthCap’s Palliative & Hospice Family Education resource can help support these important conversations.
Talking about palliative care and hospice can be difficult for residents, families, and staff. Providing education can help everyone better understand the options available. Starting these conversations before a crisis occurs can also help residents and families plan ahead.
Please reach out if you need assistance using these resources in your community. We are happy to assist!
Stay well and stay informed!
