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Please write a Paragraph answering to this discussion below with your opinion. Please include citations and references in alphabetical order in case of another source.
Studies have shown that about 80% of Americans would prefer to die in their own home, if possible. In spite of this, 60% of Americans pass away in acute care hospitals, 20% in nursing homes and only 20% at home. A smaller number of dying patients uses hospice care and even those patients are often referred to hospice only in the last 3-4 weeks of life. However, not every patient will want to die at home. Dying at home is taboo in certain cultures and some patients may wish not to die at home, out of concern that they might be a burden on the family. Still, it is clear that fewer patients are dying at home than want
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to do so. (Stanford school of medicine 2018)
End-of-life care is almost 30% of Medicare’s annual budget over the last year of life. Dying at home is much cheaper rather than in the Hospital or nursing home. Family caregivers have the heavy burden of caring for their loved ones which could be too much at times. Hospice care at home is helpful, but the family might not be ready for the emotional response of losing your loved one. Patient might get more sick and unable to maintain pain control forcing them into the Emergency Room for care and possibly a hospital admission. Also the caregivers might be fatigued and need a little break, to reset.
As Nurses we need to be supportive and non-judgmental. The family caregivers might be trying to overcome their guilt of not being able to live up to their loved ones last wishes. We can be understanding and offer pastoral help for the family. We as nurses can reassure the family that we will maintain their loved ones wishes with dignity.
Reference:
Brenoff, A. (2017). When Loved Ones Die At Home, Family Caregivers Pay The Price. HuffPost
