TY - JOUR
T1 - Supportive Care for Dementia
T2 - A Replicable Model to Reduce Neurobehavioral Symptoms, Caregiver Stress, and Hospitalizations, and Increase Hospice Referrals
AU - Hamilton, Gillian
AU - Azuma, Tamiko
AU - Lowes, Susan
AU - Gallagher, Maribeth
AU - Volk, Kylee
N1 - Funding Information:
This project was supported in part by grant #90ADP10058 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
PY - 2023/5/1
Y1 - 2023/5/1
N2 - Objective: This report describes a hospice-supported no-fee program to support patients living with all levels of dementia and their caregivers. Background: Our medical system struggles to serve the rapidly increasing numbers of patients with dementia. Hospice of the Valley developed a low-cost six-month program to reduce caregiver stress and reduce neurobehavioral disturbances of patients living with dementia, reduce costs for insurers, and increase hospice referrals. Methods: Data were analyzed from 532 patients living with caregivers admitted over 22 months. Caregiver burden, behaviors, hospitalization, and hospice admissions were tracked. Results: Severity of neurobehavioral disturbances and burden to caregivers decreased significantly. Hospitalizations decreased during and after the program, resulting in cost savings for insurance programs. Twenty-five percent of participants were admitted to hospice. Discussion: The Supportive Care for Dementia program was welcomed by community physicians, leading to improved supportive care and increased hospice referrals. The program is replicable and has been adopted by one health plan and is being evaluated by others.
AB - Objective: This report describes a hospice-supported no-fee program to support patients living with all levels of dementia and their caregivers. Background: Our medical system struggles to serve the rapidly increasing numbers of patients with dementia. Hospice of the Valley developed a low-cost six-month program to reduce caregiver stress and reduce neurobehavioral disturbances of patients living with dementia, reduce costs for insurers, and increase hospice referrals. Methods: Data were analyzed from 532 patients living with caregivers admitted over 22 months. Caregiver burden, behaviors, hospitalization, and hospice admissions were tracked. Results: Severity of neurobehavioral disturbances and burden to caregivers decreased significantly. Hospitalizations decreased during and after the program, resulting in cost savings for insurance programs. Twenty-five percent of participants were admitted to hospice. Discussion: The Supportive Care for Dementia program was welcomed by community physicians, leading to improved supportive care and increased hospice referrals. The program is replicable and has been adopted by one health plan and is being evaluated by others.
KW - avoiding hospitalizations
KW - caregiver burden
KW - dementia
KW - supportive care
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85159191904&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85159191904&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/jpm.2022.0534
DO - 10.1089/jpm.2022.0534
M3 - Article
C2 - 36745388
AN - SCOPUS:85159191904
SN - 1096-6218
VL - 26
SP - 697
EP - 699
JO - Journal of Palliative Medicine
JF - Journal of Palliative Medicine
IS - 5
ER -