Perceptions of Coordination of Care Between Hospice and Skilled Nursing Facility Care Providers

The number of older Americans who are finding Nursing Homes (NH) or Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) as their final place of care is increasing each year, especially the fastest growing segment of the national population who are 85 years and older 1. Although the majority of older adults would prefer to die in their homes, the frailty and complexities of advanced age are leading many to the nursing home setting 2, 3. In 2020, it is reported that 40% of deaths of older adults will occur in the nursing home setting 4, 5. Many studies have shown that NH/SNFs are not meeting the resident or families’ end-of-life care needs for comfort, pain relief and emotional and spiritual support1, 6-10. Hospice care in nursing homes has been associated with decreased hospitalizations, high quality pain management and a collaborative opportunity to provide palliative care to dying residents 11