Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Kyusuk Chung, PhD, Health Administration, Governors State University, University Parkway, University Park, IL 60466, 708-534-4047, k-chung@govst.edu

This pilot study examined the timing of hospice use among minority elderly with formal caregivers, in the conjuncture of three trends: 1) late referrals to hospice; 2) low utilization of hospice among minority elderly; 3) the expansion of hospice into nursing homes/assisted living (NH/AL). Twenty patients enrolled in a hospice program were surveyed because they were minority elderly and had personal care from non-family members, such as NH/AL staff or a paid caregiver in the home. Status of discharge was obtained from the program three months later. The majority of our sample (60%) were already residents in a NH/AL (Pre-resident Group), although the decision on hospice care for the majority of them (64%) were made at the time of hospitalization. A smaller portion (33%) became residents in NH/AL to get hospice care due to lack of a caregiver available in the home (Post-resident group); others (17%) were cared for at home with the help of caregivers from a state agency on aging. Such hospice-entry points were not related to the perception of right timing, but to length of stay. The pre-resident group was more likely to have longer stay in hospice (30 days or more). The group was more likely to report “family members are not available” as the reason for residing in NH/AL, while the post-resident group was more likely to report “Care is too tiring or too complicated for family members or friend”. Strategies for early referral may need to distinguish between groups.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn minority issues, particularly timely access to hospice care
• Learn dynamics of making decision on hospice enrollment among minority elderly residing in nursing home or assisted living.

Keywords: End-of-Life Care, Minority Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No