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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Referral and timing of referral to hospice care in nursing homes
— the significant role of staff members | | Author(s) | Lisa C Welch, Susan C Miller, Edward W Martin |
| Journal title | The Gerontologist, vol 48, no 4, August 2008 |
| Pages | pp 477-484 |
| Source | http://www.geron.org |
| Keywords | Terminal illness ; Referrals ; Terminal care ; Nursing homes ; Social roles ; Nurses ; United States of America. |
| Annotation | Enhanced training about recognising terminal decline, hospice services in nursing homes (NH), and the role of staff initiative would appear to support NH staff in raising the option of hospice when appropriate. The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with personnel from 7 participating nursing homes and two hospices: NH directors of nursing, 34 NH nurses, 30 NH aides, and 17 hospice nurses knowledgeable about the factors that led to the hospice status of 32 NH decedents. Selected decedents varied by diagnosis and whether received by the hospice for more than 7 days, 7 days or less, or not at all. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and coded for themes. NH staff members' recognition of terminal decline, beliefs about hospice, and initiative significantly influenced hospice referral and timing of referral. Staff members' recognition of familiar signs of decline facilitated hospice referral. In contrast, a perception that death was unexpected impeded referral; and a perception of uncertain prognosis delayed referral. Staff members' beliefs that hospice does not add value to NH care or is for crises only impeded referral, and a belief that hospice is only for the "very end" delayed referral. Residents received hospice for longer periods when staff believed that hospice complemented NH care, and when staff had the initiative in raising the option of hospice. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-080929203 A |
| Classmark | CV: L5R: LV: LHB: TM5: QTE: 7T |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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