Hospice

The goal of this study is the assess the use of remote monitoring of vital signs using commercially available medical devices in patients with advanced cancer admitted to a hospice inpatient unit for end-of-life care. The objectives of the study are: 1. could remote monitoring of vital signs improve patient care through the earlier identification of infections and other (potentially reversible) problems; 2. could remote monitoring of vital signs improve the accuracy of our estimates about how long a person has to live; and c) determine the relationship between complaints of pain / other symptoms and vital signs.

Older sexual and gender minority (SGM) patients are at risk for receiving inequitable end-of-life care; those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are at particularly high risk. Failure to collect and integrate sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data to identify patients' informal support systems may have adverse health consequences for SGM older adults, particularly for those dependent on informal caregivers to provide in-home support and assist with activities of daily living. The goal of this K01 is develop a novel training for hospice staff in person-centered communication that includes SOGI data collection to promote authentic end-of-life care for SGM patients and their caregivers.