Hospice Care for Persons with AIDS: Findings from a National Study

Abstract

Hospices are in a position to play major roles in the care of terminally ill patients with AIDS. These findings from a national survey of hospices in the United States show that the majority of hospices have cared for at least one PWA. Major factors determining hospice involvement include geographic location and resources. In comparison to other patients in hospice, PWAs are younger, more likely to be male, Black or Hispanic, and covered by Medicaid. The results indicate that hospices are reaching women with AIDS and IVDUs but that minorities continue to be underrepresented in comparison to their distribution among the total AIDS cases in the United States.

End-of-life care in the United States: policy issues and model programs of integrated care

“…Children can go in and out of terminal illness phases and the curative process is likely to be very long, making it unclear whether they will ultimately recover from their illnesses [ 16 ]. Likewise, the course of illness among persons with AIDS can be quite difficult to predict [ 17 ], as it can be for patients with dementia.…”

Living Well While Dying

“…The authors of Hospice and Palliative Care are firm believers in hospice care and do not question that its scope includes AIDS patients. Yet, they are also informed and realistic about the fact that, so far, very few such patients have been included (Cox, 1998). One reason is that many of the early AIDS treatment programs, directed at dealing with the disease among gay White men, have fostered a fighting spirit.…”