February 26, 2024
Ottawa researchers found only about half of individuals with an estimated life expectancy of less than three months received formal palliative home care. Those who received palliative home care were people who were flagged by physicians as having a terminal prognosis. The study claims prediction algorithms could allow clinicians to recognize who needs care and when. Starting palliative care in the months before death is linked to a more positive end-of-life experience, including improved quality of life, less anxiety, better pain and symptom management and potentially less aggressive care at the end of life. However, Canadian estimates indicate only 15% of people receive palliative care at home in the last year of life.