Study Finds Home Care with Hospice Care Increases Quality of Life for Cancer Patients

Home Care with Hospice Care Increases Quality of LifeAccording to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the Quality of Life (“QoL”) of terminally ill cancer patients and their caregivers is significantly improved when they are cared for and eventually pass away at home with hospice care than in other settings.  According to the study’s conclusion:

Patients with cancer who die in a hospital or ICU have worse QoL compared with those who die at home, and their bereaved caregivers are at increased risk for developing psychiatric illness. Interventions aimed at decreasing terminal hospitalizations or increasing hospice utilization may enhance patients’ QoL at the EOL and minimize bereavement-related distress.

Companion care at home with personal attendants and hospice care can significantly lessen the caregiving “work” for patients’ family and friends so that they can enjoy the time that they still have together.

Professional geriatric care managers can suggest which hospices to consider for the best “fit” with the patient and family and their needs.  Not all hospices are alike, and sadly, sometimes physicians’ recommendations are based more on the physicians’ convenience than the patients’ quality of life.  Ultimately, it is the right of the patient and family to choose the hospice that they will use.

To see the abstract (the summary) of the study, see Place of Death: Correlations With Quality of Life of Patients With Cancer and Predictors of Bereaved Caregivers’ Mental Health.  You can view a pdf file of the entire published study paper at this location.

Originally posted 2010-09-20 10:00:00.

Tim Colling
Tim Colling

Tim Colling is the founder and President of A Servant's Heart In-Home Care, which provided in-home caregiving services in San Diego County, and also of A Servant's Heart Geriatric Care Management, which provided
professional geriatric care management services and long term care placement services in San Diego County. Tim has more than 30 years of experience in management in a variety of industries. He held a Certified Care Manager credential from the National Academy of Certified Care Managers. Tim is also a Certified Public Accountant (retired), and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from California State University at San Diego. In addition to writing blog posts here for the Servant’s Heart blog, Tim also is a regular contributor to HealthLine.com and to FamilyAffaires.com as well as blogs of other eldercare services provider companies. Finally, Tim is also the president of A Servant's Heart Web Design and Marketing, which provides home care marketing as well as website design and online marketing for those who serve the elderly and their families.

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