Center to Advance Palliative Care Facts and Stats

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Center to Advance Palliative Care Facts and Stats

There are 12 million adults currently living with serious illness in the US who could benefit from palliative care. This number is projected to double by 2050.

In the US, 2.6 million people die every year. This number will increase significantly in the coming decades, and with it, the need for end-of-life care.

Palliative Care Facts

Millions of Americans, particularly aging baby boomers, are living with serious illnesses, a number expected to increase significantly over the next two decades.

Over 12 million adults and nearly 400,000 children in the U.S. could benefit from palliative care, a specialized medical approach focused on symptom relief and stress reduction.

Palliative care is administered by a dedicated team, including doctors and nurses, working in coordination with a patient’s primary healthcare providers.

Appropriate at any age and illness stage, palliative care, based on need, not prognosis, has shown positive outcomes, such as reduced depression and improved quality of life.

Commonly treated illnesses include heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.

The top 5% of healthcare spenders, including those requiring palliative care, contribute significantly to total healthcare expenditures.

Full integration of palliative care in hospitals could lead to substantial annual savings, estimated at $6 billion.

Palliative care adoption in hospitals has grown rapidly, with 72% of large hospitals reporting a palliative care team as of 2019.

Palliative Care Frequently Asked Questions

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for individuals and families dealing with serious illnesses, providing relief from symptoms alongside curative treatments.

How many people in the US need palliative care?

Approximately 12 million adults and 400,000 children in the U.S. could benefit from palliative care.

What are the benefits of palliative care?

Benefits include enhanced quality of life, treatment of symptoms and side effects, and potential for increased life expectancy.

Who can benefit from palliative care?

Palliative care is suitable for anyone with a serious illness, addressing symptoms and side effects.

What is a serious illness?

Serious illnesses encompass a range, including cancer, cardiac and respiratory diseases, Alzheimer’s, and ALS.

What is the cost of palliative care?

Palliative care is billed like other medical specialties, often covered by insurance plans.

Do you have to change doctors with palliative care?

Patients retain their primary doctor while receiving palliative care.

How do you receive palliative care?

Accessing palliative care is possible through doctor referrals in hospitals with over 50 beds and increasingly in outpatient clinics and homes.

Does palliative care have an impact on healthcare spending?

Palliative care contributes to cost reduction through efficient care coordination, leading to decreased ICU stays, pharmacy costs, and unnecessary tests.

Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). Retrieved from https://www.capc.org/documents/download/665/. Accessed (November 29, 2023).