Hospice care and end-of-life quality in nursing homes

Hospice Use, Hospice Quality, and Related End-of-Life Outcomes in Nursing Homes

NIH-funded research Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11119024

This project looks at how hospice services affect end-of-life care for older adults living in nursing homes.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionColumbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-11119024 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Researchers will analyze national nursing home and hospice data to find patterns in who enrolls in hospice, how long they receive it, and related end-of-life outcomes. They will follow the data work with interviews and observations involving nursing home staff, hospice teams, and family caregivers to understand the reasons behind those patterns. The study uses Donabedian’s Structure-Process-Outcomes framework and compares periods before, during, and after the 2020 public health emergency to identify lasting changes. Combining numbers and personal accounts aims to link measurable differences with real-world care practices in nursing homes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants include nursing home residents aged 65 and older with advanced illness (or their family caregivers) and nursing home or hospice staff who can share care experiences.

Not a fit: People who live at home, are under 65, or are not near the end of life are unlikely to be direct candidates or to see direct benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help more nursing home residents get timely, higher-quality hospice care and improve end-of-life experiences.

How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked hospice to better end-of-life outcomes but have found wide variation across nursing homes, and the impact of the COVID-19 period remains less explored.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.