New England Journal of Medicine

What Can Physicians Do To Help Elderly Patients Who Can’t Care For Themselves

Imagine your widowed father is 96 and living alone in a distant city. He’s got severe heart disease and mild dementia but is still competent to make his own choices. And is decision is: He refuses to move to a care facility but will not accept any supports and services that could help him remain safely at home. He won’t let [...]

Study: Palliative Care Improves Length and Quality of Life

An important new study finds that patients with metastatic lung cancer who received early palliative care both lived longer and reported a better quality of life than similar patients who had only standard cancer treatment.  Palliative care focuses on treating symptoms, although, unlike hospice, patients may still receive treatment for their terminal disease if they wish. Palliative care also coordinates [...]

By |2010-08-19T19:14:00-04:00August 19th, 2010|End of life|0 Comments