Considering the role of multifunctional long-term care in small group home and home-visit nursing in the terminal stage of cancer : Case reports

Abstract

 Introduction : We will discuss the efficiency of multifunctional long-term care in a small group home and home-visit nursing (MLSH) facilities and services used to determine the place for medical treatment in three terminal cancer cases.

 Cases : Case 1 is a female in her 70s with pancreatic cancer. It was impossible to continue medical treatment at home, so the patient urgently entered a MLSH and remained until death. Case 2 is a male in his 70s with hepatocellular carcinoma. MLSH were used depending on the patient’s condition. Case 3 is a female in her 70s with a malignant brain tumor. Because the patient was anxious about being discharged to her home, MLSH were used.

 Discussion : MLSH integrates nursing care and medical care to support patients with high medical needs such as those experienced during end-of-life care. MLSH day care services were especially useful in the advanced stage of terminal cancer because it allowed for patients to more easily establish and maintain a daily routine. In the future, we would like to continue to use MLSH, coordinate care with MLSH staff, and collect data to establish the ideal way of coordinating care between primary physicians and MLSH care staff.