Targeted palliative care may cut older adults’ risk of readmissions after elective surgeries: study

Targeted palliative care may cut older adults’ risk of readmissions after elective surgeries: study 
McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Alicia Lasek; 7/27/25 
Older adults with serious illness before elective surgery are at double the risk of extended hospital stays, readmissions, emergency department visits and costs, a new study has found. Targeting four key palliative care needs before surgery may help make the recovery period less burdensome for these patients and the healthcare system, the authors say. The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, looked at seriously ill older surgical patients to see what palliative care interventions might help reduce the need for excess healthcare use post surgery. Among 2,499 older adults undergoing major elective surgery, [researchers reported] 63% were seriously ill, and 79% had four key palliative care needs:

• Pain
• Depression
• Functional dependence or
• Care partner needs.