Community-Based End-of-life Care in the United States: Trends and Implication

Abstract

In Korea, end-of-life care is limited to individuals diagnosed with certain diseases and is primarily provided in inpatient settings, as outlined in the Act on Hospice and Palliative Care and Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment for Patients at the End of Life, remaining mostly unavailable in community settings. In contrast, end-of-life care in the US is not restricted to certain diseases and is commonly delivered in community-based settings, including individuals’ homes. This article examines the US end-of-life care policy in detail and explores its implications for policymaking in Korea.