Understanding adult hospices caring for children in California, 2018-2021

Understanding adult hospices caring for children in California, 2018-2021
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care; by Heather A. Davis, Meaghann S. Weaver, Christy Torkildson, Lisa C. Lindley; 6/24
In areas where there are absences of pediatric hospice care, adult hospices are often asked to provide hospice care for children. Little is known about these adult hospices. The purpose of our study was to describe the characteristics of adult hospices in California that provided care to children from 2018 to 2021. ... The 148 hospices in the study had distinct organizational profiles, mainly small, with broad service coverage areas, in rural and urban communities with predominantly nurses visiting children. There was a significant decline (32%) in availability of adult hospices caring for children between 2018 and 2021, particularly in northern California. Hospice economics, lack of familiarity with Medicaid, and staff comfortability with caring for children in hospice, were not driving this decline. Our study provides critical insight into the characteristics of adult hospices in California providing care for children and has important policy implications.