Uncovering Palliative Care Need in a Medicaid-Funded Assisted Living Facility

Summary

This primary palliative care quality improvement effort identifies and addresses palliative care need in a marginalized, frail, and vulnerable assisted living population. This project is an academic, public housing partnership between NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and The New Jewish Home (NJH). It seeks to leverage quality improvement and palliative care expertise to reduce suffering in older adults with serious illness living in an established Medicaid Assisted Living Program (ALP) in the Bronx.

The submitting author, an RN from NYU, is embedded within the wellness center of NJH (2 times per week), uncovering palliative care need; evaluating care processes; providing education to residents and care staff; and introducing interventions to address symptoms of serious illness, support advanced care planning, and reduce avoidable hospitalization.