What Social and Therapeutic Services Should a Day Hospice Provide for Patients? A Cohort Study from the Perspective of Patients and Their Relatives

Background: Day hospices are a new type of specialized outpatient palliative care facility. Recommendations regarding the exact structure of day hospices are heterogeneous. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the content and social and therapeutic services offered by day hospices from the perspective of patients and their relatives. Design and Setting: This cohort study was conducted as part of the IMPULS study, a quality-assured investigation of day hospices guided by the Medical Research Council Framework for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions. Participants: The study included patients (guests of a single day hospice versus non-guests) and their relatives to evaluate a day hospice in Germany. Procedures: The TGHS11 and TGHS14 questionnaires were used at three time points in time. Results: Patients ( n = 58) and their relatives ( n = 14) rated the content and services offered by a single day hospice as positive, particularly the nursing staff, physiotherapy, walks, and foot care (each rated 4–5 out of 5). Conversations with other guests and nursing staff and shared meals were the most important social activities (each rated 3.5–5 out of 5). Social contact/support, nursing, and health care were the main reasons for visiting the day hospice. Additionally, relatives cited their relief as a reason. Conclusions: From the perspective of day hospice guests and their relatives, social contact with nursing staff and other guests, nursing care, and mobility-promoting treatments are important core elements of day hospices. Other services and content are tailored to individual preferences and appear as optional extras.