Hospice in Nursing Homes

In the United States, nearly 25% of all deaths occur in nursing homes. Florida is home to 690 nursing homes and over 73,000 nursing home residents. Hospice, a model of care that shifts the focus of care from aggressive, life-prolonging treatments to symptom management and emotional and spiritual support, has been described as the gold standard for individuals with terminal illnesses.

The personal values, beliefs, and attitudes of nursing home staff toward hospice, which are often informed by past personal and professional experiences, have been found to impact hospice referrals and relationships with hospice providers. Similarly, nursing home administrators provide leadership in shaping the culture of the nursing home, including the degree to which the agency is welcoming of outside providers and open to collaborations. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic had added challenges due to the need for limiting contact due to the high-risk nature of the population.

This study uses an online survey to describe nursing home-hospice collaboration and explore factors that predict acceptance of, and referrals to hospice by direct care providers and administrative staff.