Care of cancer patients in nursing homes.

Nursing homes provide supportive environments for many cancer patients with stable functional and medical problems. The majority of cancer patients in nursing homes require basic palliative care. Patients with acute medical complications requiring intensive monitoring, technical treatments, or intensive rehabilitation are better suited for hospital settings or other skilled facilities where appropriate resources are readily available. Much of what we have learned over the last 15 years about the palliative care of cancer patients can be directly applied to the care of elderly cancer patients in nursing homes. With critical planning and realistic goals, nursing home care can provide dignity and improved quality of life for these patients.