Trends in Death

More Americans are Dying at Home Versus in a Hospital

A study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that, since the year 2000, more and more Americans are dying at home instead of in a hospital setting. The study found that, as of 2015, 20% of Medicare insured patients who died did so at an acute-care hospital which is down markedly from year 2000 when greater than 30% of Medicare insured patients died at a hospital.

When picturing your final days, most people prefer to picture themselves surrounded by family, in a comforting, familiar and welcoming environment, all things that are not typically associated with hospital rooms or IC Units.

Hospice services, either at-site or at-home hospice care has been increasing significantly over the years with greater than 50% of terminal patients receiving some hospice care in 2015. This follows a trend in hospital services that prioritize palliative care and patient wishes to a greater extent than ever before.

Having witnessed each of my own parent's passing, one in a hospital, the other at home, I have to conclude that dying at home is preferable as long as any attendant pain and discomfort can be handled adequately at home.

This trend, should it continue, will likely provide for much more peaceful and less expensive deaths that are less trying on the survivors and allow additional dignity and comfort for the patient.

http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-where-americans-die-20180627-story.html