Improving community-based palliative care explanations: Insights from persons declining services

Improving community-based palliative care explanations: Insights from persons declining services
American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care; by Kira G Sheldon, Kathryn H Bowles, Elizabeth A Luth; 8/25
Beneficiaries and caregivers had mixed understandings of palliative care, including: no knowledge, belief that it was the same as or pre-hospice, and accurate, but often one-dimensional understandings of it. Participants recommended providing individualized, tailored explanations focused on the person's health concerns in simple language with follow-up materials to improve engagement with palliative care. Small adjustments to how palliative care is explained may increase understanding among older adults and caregivers, particularly among those with limited or inaccurate knowledge. Among those familiar with palliative care, providing accessible and clear explanations customized to the person's specific care needs can further broaden understanding and increase perceived relevance.