Affiliation: | aDepartment of Communication Studies, University of North Texas, PO Box 305268, Denton, TX 76203-5268, United States bUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, The GRECC, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, United States |
Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: This essay identifies elderly cancer patients as a population that experiences cancer-related health disparities at the end-of-life. METHODS: While hospice and palliative care (PC) are care options for this population, it is argued that PC prior to hospice will yield numerous benefits for long-term end-of-life care. RESULTS: It is theorized that PC prior to hospice will be beneficial in meeting the family's needs in a timely and adequate manner, improving quality of life, increasing caregiver satisfaction and communication, possibly delay institutionalization of the patient, and may ultimately impact bereavement. CONCLUSION: Patients would be able to benefit from PC in an early stage of their disease, positively influencing older cancer patients and families. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Long-term assessment of the impact of PC prior to hospice is proposed as a promising direction of future research. |