Abstract
The use of hospice services upon admission to the nursing home (NH) raises questions about the potential for residents admitted from home/assisted living communities to receive end-of-life care in the community and age-in-place until death. Because the Institute of Medicine recommends limiting transitions near the end-of-life, this study examined the use of hospice services on admission to a NH. Resident assessments from the Minimum Data Set were examined for NH residents admitted directly from home or an assisted living community. In 2008, a total of 139,262 NH residents were admitted from the community (representing approximately 10% of the total NH population). Seven percent of residents received hospice services on admission. Analyses suggests that older adults who were receiving hospice services in the community transitioned to the NH to receive end-of-life care. The capacity of hospice to maintain persons until the end of life in the community will be discussed.