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End
of Life Care
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 |
Increase
the numbers of North Carolinians who, at the end of their life, use
hospice and other palliative care services.
Target:
13,685 persons will be served by North Carolina hospices. f
Baseline, 1998: 10,948 persons used Hospice services
at end of life.
Target Setting Method: 25 percent increase.
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Older
Adult Health - End of Life Care
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In 1997,
65,880 North Carolinians died. Of those who experienced a terminal
illness, most did not receive comprehensive hospice care. Much greater
use of home and community-based care of chronically ill and frail
is considered an essential strategy for coping with the predicted
increase of older adults in North Carolina. Hospice care is not limited
to older adults. In 1998, 77 percent of persons receiving services
were age 60 or older. Despite federal and state laws that establish
this right, completion of advance care directives is infrequent, and
their use by health care personnel is erratic. Nursing home and rest
home personnel care for many dying elders but have limited training
to prepare them to provide comprehensive end of life care to residents
and their families. Palliative care is essential for maintaining health
and the highest possible quality of life for the terminally ill, their
families, and caretakers. |
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Disparities
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| None noted |
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Determinants/Risk
Factors
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Concerns about managing intractable pain
at the end of life, families lack information on how to provide home-based
care for their terminally ill family members, under-utilization of
hospice services by professionals in hospitals, long term care facility
providers not trained to provide comprehensive end-of-life care |
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NC
Data
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| Older
Adult Health - End of Life Care |
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