Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Mar 2014
Place of death and end-of-life transitions experienced by very old people with differing cognitive status: retrospective analysis of a prospective population-based cohort aged 85 and over.
Despite fast-growing 'older old' populations, 'place of care' trajectories for very old people approaching death with or without dementia are poorly described and understood. ⋯ Most very old community-dwelling individuals, especially the severely cognitively impaired, died away from home. Findings also suggest that long-term care may play a role in avoidance of end-of-life hospital admissions. These results provide important information for planning end-of-life services for older people across the cognitive spectrum, with implications for policies aimed at supporting home deaths. MESH TERMS: Cognitive impairment, Dementia, Aged, 80 and over, Aged, frail elderly, Patient Transfer, Residential characteristics, Homes for the aged, Nursing Homes, Delivery of Health Care, Terminal care Other key phrases: Older old, Oldest old, Place of death, Place of care, End-of-life care.