Palliative Care Consultations in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Setting

Palliative Care Consultations for Persons in the Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Setting

Close to one-third of Medicare decedents use the Medicare skilled nursing facility (SNF) benefit in the 6 months prior to death. SNF care often increases the risk for more aggressive, potentially burdensome treatments and unrecognized or undertreated symptoms. Palliative care is goal-directed, patient and family-centered care that focuses on a wide range of physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs for persons with serious, life-limiting illnesses. Effective palliative care relieves suffering, enhances communication, and improves end-of-life care and decision making for seriously ill older adults. Despite its association with improved quality of care, higher satisfaction, and better symptom management at the end of life, palliative care is not widely available to Medicare patients in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) setting. Palliative care consultation (PCC) is one approach that can potentially improve care for older adults with advanced illness in SNFs. This pilot study will test an evidence-based palliative care consult intervention for older adult SNF patients in nursing homes by comparing the patient/family caregiver reported quality of life in two participant groups: one receiving a PCC and the other receiving standard care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Admitted to a participating nursing home under the Medicare SNF benefit
• English speaking
• If non-verbal or unable to participate in a conversation, a legally authorized representative(LAR) or surrogate decision maker who can participate in the study
• A diagnosis of one or more advanced serious illness using established criteria
• One global indicator for a PCC at SNF admission (i.e., primary provider would not be surprised if patient died in 12 months; frequent hospital or SNF admissions; complex care requirements; decline in function; feeding intolerance; or unintended decline in weight)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have previously received or are referred for a SNF-based PCC by their primary care team