In news that may be of interest to those seeking skilled nursing care services, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers and their colleagues have discovered that such discussions can lead to an improved quality of life, which is in contrast to traditional doctor advice that claims it could lead to the emotional distress of patients.
According to Eurekalert, the study - which is published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association - revealed that those who had such talks were more prone to accept terminal illness and therefore opt for care over life-extending treatments.
It was also found that such discussions could aid loved ones and caregivers, as aggressive medication tended to prevent conversation between the two parties.
First author Alexi Wright said: "Overall, patients who received less aggressive care at the end of life were thought to have better quality of life by their family members and other informal caregivers."
Meanwhile, candidates in the ongoing US presidential campaign have been urged by the Tennessee Association of Homes and Services for the Aging to remember long-term care when it comes to their discussions on reforming the current healthcare system.
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