Study: More Dementia Residents Using Hospice

A new study found has found that dementia residents are using hospice care benefits more and more. It also showed that 40 percent of residents have some degree of dementia when they die.

The study, published in the December issue of the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, is the first to estimate the percentage of people in nursing homes who have mild to moderately severe or advanced dementia when they pass away. The study authors, while pleased to see that more and more residents were using hospice, and using it for longer periods of time, also cautioned that their findings could be used by policymakers as a reason to cut costs.

The study's lead researcher also noted that while people die of dementia, many times family members and caregivers don't recognize it as a terminal illness.

To learn more, click here.