Survival in hospice patients with dementia: the effect of home hospice and nurse visits.

Background: Hospice patients with dementia are at increased risk for live discharge and long lengths of stay (>180 days), causing patient and family caregiver stress and burden. The location and timing of clinician visits are important factors influencing whether someone dies as expected, in hospice, or experiences a live discharge or long length of stay.

Objective: Examine how home hospice and nurse visit frequency relate to dying in hospice within the Medicare-intended 6-month period.

Caregiver-Reported Quality Measures and Their Correlates in Home Hospice Care.

A majority of hospice care is delivered at home, with significant caregiver involvement. Identifying factors associated with caregiver-reported quality measures could help improve hospice care in the United States. To identify correlates of caregiver-reported quality measures: burden, satisfaction, and quality of end-of-life (EoL) care in home hospice care.

Identifying the Prevalence and Correlates of Caregiver-Reported Symptoms in Home Hospice Patients at the End of Life.

Symptoms (e.g., pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue) at the end of life (EoL) are common.

Prevalence, Severity, and Correlates of Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression at the Very End of Life.

Context: Rates of psychological symptoms for patients with serious illness are high, but there has been limited research investigating psychological symptoms at the very end of life (EOL).

Objectives: To better understand the prevalence, severity, and correlates of psychological distress at the very EOL.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study utilized caregiver proxy interviews.

Perceptions of a Home Hospice Crisis: An Exploratory Study of Family Caregivers.

Crises that occur in home hospice care affect family caregivers' satisfaction with care and increase risk of disenrollment. Because hospice care focuses on achieving a peaceful death, understanding the prevalence and nature of crises that occur in this setting could help to improve end-of-life outcomes. To ascertain the prevalence and nature of, as well as factors associated with crises in the home hospice setting as reported by family caregivers.

Home Hospice Caregivers' Perceived Information Needs.

Background:: Although home hospice organizations provide essential care for and support to terminally ill patients, many day-to-day caregiving responsibilities fall to informal (ie, unpaid) caregivers. Studies have shown that caregivers value receiving clear information about end-of-life (EoL) care. Meeting the information needs of this group is critical in improving their experience in hospice.

Mobile Health Technology Is Here-But Are Hospice Informal Caregivers Receptive?

Background:: Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) represent a rapidly emerging technology that is being used to improve health-care delivery. In home hospice, informal caregivers play an essential role in attending to the day-to-day needs of their terminally ill loved ones. Using mHealth apps by caregivers in this setting could potentially improve the support provided to both patients and caregivers at the end of life (EoL).

Events Leading to Hospital-Related Disenrollment of Home Hospice Patients: A Study of Primary Caregivers' Perspectives.

Background: Approximately 25% of hospice disenrollments in the United States occur as the result of hospitalization, which can lead to burdensome transitions and undesired care. Informal caregivers (e.g.