Transforming Palliative Care in Nursing Homes

This book offers a transformative perspective on palliative care in nursing homes, highlighting the importance of comfort care throughout the illness journey.

In Transforming Palliative Care in Nursing Homes, Mercedes Bern-Klug collaborates with a diverse group of experts from nursing, law, medicine, sociology, and social work to provide a comprehensive understanding of palliative care within nursing homes. This book expands the conventional definition of palliative care, asserting that comfort care is relevant throughout the entire illness experience, rather than solely at the end of life. Given that many nursing home residents are older adults with complex, chronic conditions, the focus is particularly on palliative psychosocial care, although the recommendations can also be adapted for other long-term care environments like assisted living.

The contributors to Transforming Palliative Care in Nursing Homes blend academic research with practical insights, creating a resource that is both scholarly and applicable. Each chapter addresses topics aligned with the eight domains of palliative care as outlined by the National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care. While some chapters emphasize the care of residents, others delve into the experiences of their families. Additionally, the book includes a section on self-care for nursing home staff and discusses rituals surrounding the death of residents, providing a holistic view of the care environment.

Bern-Klug concludes the book with a forward-looking examination of the factors that will influence the future of palliative care for those with advanced chronic illnesses. This work presents a vision for nursing home care that encompasses physical, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual aspects, enhanced by an interdisciplinary approach. It also addresses family dynamics, cultural competence, and the nuances of sexual orientation, all while grounding its recommendations in a robust theoretical framework and a thorough analysis of elder care policies in the U.S., including Medicare and Medicaid.