ABSTRACT
Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) provide care to dependent persons with a variety of needs and expectations and, in a shifting medical marketplace, ethical issues are part of the daily routine. In the wake of shortened hospital stays, the use ofnursing homes for subacute post-hospital stays has surged. Short-term residents may receive rehabilitation services or continuing medical treatment for serious illnesses such as osteomyelitis. Improvement in function and health is the usual goal, and discharge to the community is often expected. The other larger group of residents living in LTCFs is composed of frailer individuals who are likely to reside in the LTCF through the end of life. The nursing home is their home. Their expectations for medical care are varied, as are their abilities to make decisions and express treatment preferences. A subset of those residents are near the end of life.
