The Relationship Between Community Engagement and Hospice Utilization

Purpose/Objectives: This review of the literature was conducted to determine whether community engagement can help overcome barriers and increase access to the best end-of-life care, particularly hospice care. Method: The authors searched the PubMed database using the following search terms: community engagement OR community outreach OR compassionate communities AND hospice utilization OR hospice use OR hospice enrollment OR access to hospice, for articles published within the last 5 years. Findings/Conclusions: Themes in the literature include the importance of community engagement in designing and planning end-of-life healthcare models. Academic partnerships can help bridge communities and healthcare delivery platforms, and community advocacy can drive policy change and infrastructure investment for older adults. Implications for Case Management Practice: Hospice care, is evidence-based to meet person-centered care goals aligned with strategic intiatives for healthcare systems. Community engagement and academic partnerships are best practices to achieve sustainable outcomes in access to person-centered hospice care in diverse communities which are growing and thriving across these United States.