Study Suggests Increased Access to Palliative Care Programs Can Improve Quality of Care and Satisfaction

​Although many nursing home residents may qualify for palliative care programs, many do not receive any formal interdisciplinary palliative care that could potentially improve care quality and satisfaction, according to a research letter published in the January 2018 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine. The authors gathered data from 228 residents in three California nursing homes between January and May 2015, and found that 69% were eligible for palliative care, but none were actually receiving palliative care. Of the 157 residents who were eligible for palliative care, 47% had Alzheimer disease or dementia, 24% had congestive heart failure, 17% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 8% had cancer.