What is the Personal Immune Price for Hospice Caregivers? A Case-Control Study.

Abstract

In 2016, more than 1.43 million patients received hospice care in the United States and nearly half of the hospice days of care were provided at private residences [1]. Home-based hospice care increases the likelihood of death at home by 7 to 8 fold [2]. Although spousal caregivers experiencing strain were shown to be 63% more likely to die within 4 years than non-caregivers, these findings were not replicated in population based studies involving different caregivers [3-6]. Caregivers of terminal cancer and hospice patients often face increased psychosocial stressors and a perception of crisis specially when a loved one’s symptoms continue to intensify near the end of life [7]. In a study involving caregivers of Alzheimer and other dementia patients, 72% acknowledged they felt a sense of relief after the patient’s death [8].