Geriatrics

Acute medical illness can present at the end of life and contribute to significant distress in patients, their families and their careers. Care models should be ready to assess, treat and support patients with an acute medical illness at the top of life within the setting chosen by patients, which could include home, care home, hospice or hospital.

There is some uncertainty over the clinical and cost-effectiveness of various models of community based palliative care, which may support management of acute medical illnesses at the top of life outside hospices and hospitals. This is important to work out because it offers option to patients and care at an important time of life.