Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Are patient preferences for life-sustaining treatment really a barrier to hospice enrollment for older adults with serious illness?
To determine whether patient preferences are a barrier to hospice enrollment. ⋯ Overall, few patients had treatment preferences that would make them eligible for hospice, although even in patients whose preferences were consistent with hospice, few enrolled. Efforts to improve end-of-life care should offer alternatives to hospice that do not require patients to give up life-sustaining treatment, as well as interventions to improve communication about patients' preferences.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Risk factors for surgical site infections in older people.
To identify risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) in older people and to test a priori hypotheses regarding particular variables and SSI risk. ⋯ This study identified several independent predictors of SSI in older people, including comorbid conditions (COPD and obesity), perioperative variables (wound class), and socioeconomic factors (private insurance, which was associated with lower risk). The results from this study can be used to design and implement interventions for SSI prevention in high-risk older people.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Is hospice associated with improved end-of-life care in nursing homes and assisted living facilities?
To examine whether hospice enrollment for nursing home (NH) and residential care/assisted living (RC/AL) residents near the end of life is associated with symptoms and symptom management, personal care, spiritual support, and family satisfaction. ⋯ Rates of hospice use observed in this study (22%) were considerably higher than previously reported, although persons with dementia may continue to be underreferred. Hospice use is targeted to dying residents with higher levels of reported pain and dyspnea. Because difference in care largely disappears in cases when death was expected, LTC staff seem to be well positioned to provide end-of-life care for their residents and are advised to remain sensitive to instances in which death may be expected.