Ever wondered what difference it might make to offer more support before surgery? When it comes to palliative care for older adults, new research is showing us that it could make a big one.

A recent study in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons followed 2,499 older adults with serious illness undergoing surgery. Those who had unmet palliative care needs—like depression, pain, care partner support, or challenges with daily tasks—ended up having more total hospital days, readmissions, and emergency department visits. Among all the factors examined, depression stood out as the strongest contributor to increased healthcare use and cost.

Lead study author Dr. Jolene Wong Si Min of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Singapore General Hospital noted, “An important next step would be to see how we can successfully incorporate palliative care practices in the care of seriously ill patients going for routine elective surgery.” That next step might just be around the corner for senior living communities.

Palliative care isn’t just for end-of-life—it’s very different from hospice. It’s designed to enhance the quality of life for those living with serious illness at any stage, not just the terminal phase. It works with ongoing treatments, helping to manage symptoms, reduce pain, and offer psychological and emotional support.

A recent article from McKnight’s Long-Term Care News dives into the findings and discusses how targeted palliative care for older adults may cut their risk of readmissions after elective surgeries. The takeaway? Addressing needs like depression or caregiver strain before surgery could dramatically improve outcomes.

Is your community already thinking about how to integrate this kind of support? If not, keep an eye out—HealthCap is developing a program that will help communities like yours design and implement a robust palliative care model tailored to the needs of older adults.

Stay well and stay informed!