WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: Medicare data from 2017 to 2020 for nearly 270,000 individuals from larger AL communities (25+ beds) found that about 35% of residents died during the study period, most often those 85 or older or with dementia. Most residents stayed in assisted living until their last year of life, but almost 20% left before their last month of life. Among those who lived in the community 30 days before death, nearly half died at the community without any healthcare transition, while over 13% had 3 or more healthcare transfers before death. Due to the prevalence of residents dying while in residence in assisted living, end-of-life practices and policies should be evaluated.
Characteristics and End-of-Life Care Pathways of Decedents From a National Cohort of Assisted Living Residents
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: Medicare data from 2017 to 2020 for nearly 270,000 individuals from larger AL communities (25+ beds) found that about 35% of residents died during the study period, most often those 85 or older or with dementia. Most residents stayed in assisted living until their last year of life, but almost 20% left before their last month of life. Among those who lived in the community 30 days before death, nearly half died at the community without any healthcare transition, while over 13% had 3 or more healthcare transfers before death. Due to the prevalence of residents dying while in residence in assisted living, end-of-life practices and policies should be evaluated.
