Home-Based Palliative Care: Benefits, Challenges, Opportunities and Future Directions in a Super-Aged Society.

Abstract

Home-based palliative care (HBPC) has emerged as a critical model to address the complex needs of individuals with life-limiting illnesses, particularly in super-aged societies. This review explored the key components of HBPC and elaborated on its benefits, challenges, opportunities, and future directions, drawing on international evidence and practical frameworks. HBPC is reported to enhance the quality of life, reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, and increase the likelihood of patients dying in their preferred settings. Successful care delivery requires integrated multidisciplinary teams, effective symptom management, holistic care, and timely support from caregivers. However, barriers such as resource constraints, caregiver burden, and a lack of psychosocial support remain significant. Future directions and opportunities include integrating hospital-at-home models into routine HBPC services, strengthening the education of healthcare professionals and the public, and fostering compassionate communities to promote social engagement in end-of-life care. Advancing HBPC within diverse sociocultural contexts can bridge the gap between patient preferences and actual care delivery, offering a sustainable pathway to improve continuous palliative care provision for older adults globally.