Palliative home care services offer a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals to provide comprehensive care in the comfort of your own home. These teams can include a physician, two registered nurses, and an administrative assistant. They are available for a low flat fee and can work with you to fit your needs.

Inpatient costs were lower for people using palliative home care services compared to those who didn't

The cost-effectiveness of home palliative care services has long been a question in healthcare policy circles. Several studies have evaluated the effectiveness of palliative home care services compared with other forms of care. One study looked at the cost-effectiveness of home palliation for people with advanced illness. It included 2047 patients and 1678 caregivers, and considered both institutional and non-institutional costs.

Inpatient costs were lower for people using paliative home care services compared to those using conventional care. However, the differences were not statistically significant. The cost differences between the two groups varied from 18% to 35%. One study in particular showed that people using palliative home care services experienced fewer hospitalizations than those who didn't use these services.

Interventions vary widely

Home-based palliative care is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. There are nearly two million homebound patients and 4.6 million semi-homebound patients. The mortality rate for these patients is higher than for non-homebound patients. Palliative home care programs provide nursing, social work, physical and occupational therapy, and other services to patients in their homes. The services typically have lower touch levels than hospice care but can include in-person monthly visits and telehealth care.

Palliative rehabilitation focuses on maximizing quality of life for terminally ill patients by providing relief from symptoms and preventing complications. This includes relieving pain, improving mobility, minimizing dependence on others, and providing emotional and spiritual support. This type of care often includes the input of a multidisciplinary team of professionals, including psychologists, chaplains, and social workers.

No effect on caregiver grief

A recent study found no effect of palliative home care services on caregiver grief. The authors conducted a hierarchical multiple regression analysis to determine the factors that influenced caregiver grief. Among these factors were caregiver burden, social support, and preparedness for caregiving. The study also looked at the effect of palliative home care services on the intensity of predeath grief.

Participants were interviewed about their experiences of caring for a deceased person. The participants were interviewed for up to 65 minutes about their experiences. The participants' responses were analyzed using NVivo software. Participants' responses were categorized into four main categories, based on the degree of involvement in medical treatment. Those who were heavily involved in treatment reported feeling satisfied with the outcome. Some caregivers also performed invasive medical procedures on the patient, such as giving injections or subcutaneous needles. The participants described the strains and positive and negative effects of providing palliative care to a dying patient.

Integration with other forms of care

Integration with other forms of palliative care is a complex topic and requires further research. The process can be influenced by the patient's wishes and the attitude of care providers, as well as institutional values and resources. A patient's preferences should determine how early the patient should begin receiving palliative care.

In-person palliative care services are also an option for patients who qualify. The care can be provided by the hospice, a home health agency, a long-term care facility, or a group home. The Compassionate Communities movement calls for the community to embrace palliative care and create partnerships between people, communities, and healthcare providers.

Integration with other federal departments

The Canadian government is making strides in the field of palliative home care services. Funding support and national attention have helped to build a solid foundation for improving palliative care services. As a result, the province of Ontario created End-of-Life Care Networks, which have been instrumental in the development of collaborative partnerships across providers and settings.

In addition to government funding, palliative home care services are also receiving reimbursement from commercial payers, hospital systems, and other partnerships. These programs can also benefit from reimbursement through Medicare home health benefit and Accountable Care Organizations.

Future research needs to reach consensus on meaningful outcomes

In determining the effectiveness of palliative home care services, future research must first identify what types of interventions produce the most meaningful outcomes. In addition, future research must establish the appropriate standards for quality assurance of palliative home care services.

To achieve these goals, future research needs to include the perspective of patients and caregivers. This will ensure that research is relevant to patient needs and increases the value of resources spent. Research that fails to address patient or caregiver needs can be considered wasteful.