title: Difficulties in developing a respite program.
abstract: St. Paul's Hospital Palliative Care Unit is a 15-bed integrated AIDS and non-AIDS unit that has been open since 1989. A respite program has also been operating since 1989. Overall admissions to the unit have comprised approximately one-third AIDS patients and two-thirds non-AIDS patients. However, the respite patients have consisted of about two-thirds AIDS patients and one-third non-AIDS patients. The 53 patients in the first three years of the respite program have generated 96 respite admissions and 37 non-respite admissions. In the course of developing this program a number of questions and issues have arisen relating to goals and objectives of the respite program, perceptions of the patient and caregivers, and the effectiveness of the program. A review of the utilization patterns of this program and a discussion of selected case histories will be instructional for those who are considering developing their own respite programs.
authors.affiliation: St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cumming
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006738:Hospices / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016730:Program Development; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012144:Respite Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014600:Utilization Review