Palliative care in the community setting (care outside of the hospital) focuses on providing palliative care through established delivery systems, such as home care and hospice, as well as collaborative partnerships with service agencies and individual clinicians. The goal is to maintain a person’s life at home or place of residence by maximizing quality of life, optimizing function, and providing care that supports their goals and preferences.

People may need palliative care in a community setting if they:

  • Don’t meet criteria for hospital admission, yet need support
  • Are too well for home care and yet do not meet the criteria for hospice
  • Are frail and elderly and want to stay out of the hospital
  • Have a child with a serious illness and chronic care needs that negatively impacts quality of life

Palliative care in the community can be delivered at home or in residential homes, long-term care settings, outpatient clinics, individual clinics, and office practices. To fully develop the support systems and partnerships necessary to deliver this level of care in the community, it takes needs assessment, planning, development, and implementation.

Use CAPC Tools to Build and Strengthen Your Community Palliative Care Program

Both palliative care specialists and nonpalliative care clinicians can access CAPC training and technical assistance through our evidence-based online courses, curated tools drawn from best practices, and virtual events with nationally recognized faculty.

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