| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|---|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
a College of Nursing and Health Professions, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
b University of Oklahoma College of Nursing, Oklahoma City
c Susanna Wesley Center at Epworth Villa Lifecare Community, Oklahoma City, OK
d Donald W. Reynolds Department of Geriatrics, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City
Correspondence: Shirley S. Travis, PhD, RN, CS, College of Nursing and Health Professions, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223. E-mail: sstravis{at}email.uncc.edu.
Laurence G. Branch, PhD
Purpose: This study compared patterns of care, including hospitalization, during the last year of life for a group of residents in institutional long-term care. These subjects were either implicitly or explicitly in palliative care modes versus those who remained in active treatment or blended care. Design and Methods: The study used a retrospective chart review and both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis to examine indepth the end-of-life experiences of 41 nursing home residents who died in the nursing care unit of one large continuing care retirement community during an 18-month period. Results: Most residents die in palliative care modes, but their movement into palliation with comfort care and symptom management is often slowed by indecision or inaction on the part of key decision makers, interrupted by aggressive acute care, or delayed until the last few days of life. Implications: Transitions from active curative care to palliative care are important for residents in permanent long-term care placements. Improved end-of-life care requires more attention to these transitions and to the decisions that residents, their families, and care teams are called upon to make.
Key Words: Advance directives • Caregiver coalitions • End-of-life care
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  E. Jakobsson, F. Gaston-Johansson, J. Ohlen, and I. Bergh Clinical problems at the end of life in a Swedish population, including the role of advancing age and physical and cognitive function Scand J Public Health, March 1, 2008; 36(2): 177 - 182. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W. J. McAuley, R. J. Buchanan, S. S. Travis, S. Wang, and M. Kim Recent Trends in Advance Directives at Nursing Home Admission and One Year After Admission. Gerontologist, June 1, 2006; 46(3): 377 - 381. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. Wetle, R. Shield, J. Teno, S. C. Miller, and L. Welch Family Perspectives on End-of-Life Care Experiences in Nursing Homes Gerontologist, October 1, 2005; 45(5): 642 - 650. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 F. A. Bailey, K. L. Burgio, L. L. Woodby, B. R. Williams, D. T. Redden, S. H. Kovac, R. M. Durham, and P. S. Goode Improving Processes of Hospital Care During the Last Hours of Life Arch Intern Med, August 8, 2005; 165(15): 1722 - 1727. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. S. Travis, S. Moore, P. D. Larsen, and M. Turner Clinical indicators of treatment futility and imminent terminal decline as discussed by multidisciplinary teams in long-term care American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, May 1, 2005; 22(3): 204 - 210. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. T. Penson, K. J. Daniels, and T. J. Lynch Jr. Too Old to Care? Oncologist, June 1, 2004; 9(3): 343 - 352. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. R. Mehr, J. T. van der Steen, R. L. Kruse, M. E. Ooms, M. Rantz, and M. W. Ribbe Lower Respiratory Infections in Nursing Home Residents With Dementia: A Tale of Two Countries Gerontologist, April 1, 2003; 43(90002): 85 - 93. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Z. Doorenbos and M. A. Nies The Use of Advance Directives in a Population of Asian Indian Hindus J Transcult Nurs, January 1, 2003; 14(1): 17 - 24. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Mezey, N. N. Dubler, E. Mitty, and A. A. Brody What Impact Do Setting and Transitions Have on the Quality of Life at the End of Life and the Quality of the Dying Process? Gerontologist, October 1, 2002; 42(90003): 54 - 67. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. K. George Research Design in End-of-Life Research: State of Science Gerontologist, October 1, 2002; 42(90003): 86 - 98. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. E Cameron Older Persons' Ethical Problems Involving Their Health Nursing Ethics, September 1, 2002; 9(5): 537 - 556. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. S. Travis, M. Bernard, S. Dixon, W. J. McAuley, G. Loving, and L. McClanahan Obstacles to Palliation and End-of-Life Care in a Long-Term Care Facility Gerontologist, June 1, 2002; 42(3): 342 - 349. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|---|
| All GSA journals | Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences | Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences |
