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End-of-Life Care in Nursing Homes and Hospitals

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Care Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 627

Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Nursing, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
Interests: cancer care; compassionate community; death literacy; end-of-life care; palliative care; self-compassion

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Guest Editor
Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
Interests: supportive care; cancer care; palliative care; psychosocial oncology; oncology nursing; survivorship; clinical nursing research
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Palliative care is recognized as an international human right, and the quality of end-of-life care is of paramount importance. However, global health systems are unprepared for the growing need. The World Health Organization estimates that only 14% of the global population has access, leaving the vast majority of needs unmet.

When available, palliative care must be provided through a person-centered approach. It should be integrated into health services that are responsive to the specific needs and preferences of each individual, regardless of age, disease, or setting. Yet, providing this care is increasingly complex. Medical and technological advancements, while offering promise, have profoundly impacted the dying process. This has often led to a "medicalized" end-of-life experience that can be isolated, creating a tension between technological intervention and the fundamental human need for comfort and respect. Nowadays, societies are seeking innovative methods to reclaim a sense of humanity and striving to balance the capabilities of modern medicine with the essential requirements for dignity in life's final stages.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on the current state of knowledge on the links between advancement of technology and medicine and human experiences at the end of life, particularly in hospital settings and nursing homes. New research papers, reviews, and innovation and intervention reports are welcome. Other manuscript types accepted include methodological and perspective papers.

Dr. Kittikorn Nilmanat
Prof. Dr. Margaret Fitch
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • death and dying
  • end-of-life care
  • ethical dilemma
  • nursing home
  • palliative care
  • person-centered care
  • technology
  • self compassion

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 638 KB  
Article
Palliative Care Involvement in Hospitalized Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients
by Sumeet Bhardwaj, Anita Chakraborty, Jillian Mead and Kalli Stilos
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(8), 1081; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23081081 - 19 Aug 2026
Viewed by 96
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease associated with significant physical, psychological, and social distress. Given its terminal nature and high symptom burden, early integration of palliative care is essential. The inpatient Palliative Care Consult Team (PCCT) provides specialist palliative care [...] Read more.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease associated with significant physical, psychological, and social distress. Given its terminal nature and high symptom burden, early integration of palliative care is essential. The inpatient Palliative Care Consult Team (PCCT) provides specialist palliative care to hospitalized patients with ALS. Hospitalizations are common throughout the ALS disease trajectory, particularly as patients experience progressive functional decline, respiratory compromise, and increasing care needs, making inpatient encounters important opportunities for specialist palliative care involvement. To extend palliative care beyond the inpatient setting and facilitate earlier involvement, an ALS ambulatory clinic was established in 2018. Despite the importance of palliative care, limited data describes its involvement among hospitalized ALS patients. This retrospective review examines the relationship between the PCCT and ALS patients admitted to a tertiary care facility between 2006–2019. Data collected included patient demographics, referral indications, clinical course, and disposition. Most patients referred to the PCCT had poor functional status and a guarded prognosis at initial consultation. Symptom management and support for complex decision-making were leading reasons for referral. Approximately half of patients died in the hospital within three months of referral. Most deaths occurred within one week, underscoring the importance of timely palliative care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue End-of-Life Care in Nursing Homes and Hospitals)
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