End-of-life care for older adults receiving home medical care in Japan: a pilot retrospective cohort study

Objective

Home medical care plays an important role in supporting aging and dying in one's preferred place. However, little is known regarding end-of-life (EOL) care among older adults receiving home medical care. This study aimed to describe the EOL characteristics in this population and identify factors associated with dying at home. Patient/Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we used clinical data derived from a single home medical clinic in Tokyo, Japan. The study participants were adults aged ≥65 years who had received home medical care and died between April 2016 and October 2022. Demographic characteristics, clinical conditions, long-term care needs, family caregiving arrangements, advance care planning (ACP), hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and place of death were extracted from medical records. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine factors associated with home death.