Identifying Palliative Care Needs Among Older Adults in Nonclinical Settings.

TitleIdentifying Palliative Care Needs Among Older Adults in Nonclinical Settings.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsKozlov E, Cai A, Sirey JAnne, Ghesquiere A, M Reid C
JournalAm J Hosp Palliat Care
Volume35
Issue12
Pagination1477-1482
Date Published2018 Dec
ISSN1938-2715
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Female, Health Services Needs and Demand, Health Status, Humans, Male, Mass Screening, Mental Health, Middle Aged, New York City, Palliative Care, Patient Care Planning, Residence Characteristics, Senior Centers, Socioeconomic Factors
Abstract

Though palliative care is appropriate for patients with serious illness at any stage of the illness and treatment process, the vast majority of palliative care is currently delivered in inpatient medical settings in the past month of life during an acute hospitalization. Palliative care can have maximal benefit to patients when it is integrated earlier in the illness trajectory. One possible way to increase earlier palliative care use is to screen for unmet palliative care needs in community settings. The goal of this study was to assess the rates of unmet palliative care needs in older adults who attend New York City-based senior centers. The results of this study revealed that 28.8% of participants screened positive for unmet palliative care needs. Lower education and living alone were predictors of positive palliative care screens, but age, gender, marital status, and race were not. This study determined that the rate of unmet palliative care needs in community-based older adults who attend senior center events was high and that living arrangement and education level are both correlates of unmet palliative care needs. Screening for unmet palliative care needs in community settings is a promising approach for moving palliative care upstream to patients who could benefit from the additional supportive services prior to an acute hospitalization.

DOI10.1177/1049909118777235
Alternate JournalAm J Hosp Palliat Care
PubMed ID29792039
PubMed Central IDPMC6295198
Grant ListK24 AG053462 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG022845 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P50 MH113838 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
T32 AG049666 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States