Is Hospice Use Alone a Good Indicator of Quality of End-of-Life Care?

Hospice use is commonly accepted as an indicator of quality of end-of-life care. However, when researchers in the U.S. studied variations in patterns of hospice use between states, they found troubling trends. They discuss the variations in the timing and duration of hospice enrollment and their implications in an article published in August 2015 in… Continue reading Is Hospice Use Alone a Good Indicator of Quality of End-of-Life Care?

Hospice Use May Ease Depression in Surviving Spouses

An Institute of Medicine's report on improving the quality of care near the end of life highlights the need for supporting family caregivers. Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York found a modest reduction in depressive symptoms among some surviving spouses of hospice users compared with nonhospice users. The article,… Continue reading Hospice Use May Ease Depression in Surviving Spouses