News Release
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February 27, 2006
Statewide Survey to Determine Idahoans' Attitudes on
End-of-Life Issues
A survey sent to 3,000 Idahoans age 35 or older will determine residents’
attitudes, beliefs and needs in regard to end-of-life issues. The survey is
a project of Boise State University’s Center for the Study of Aging and A
Better Way Coalition: Life on Our Own Terms.
The Idaho End-of-Life Survey Project will help determine how people in Idaho
view dying and death and what resources and services would improve care at
the end of life. Individuals and organizations involved in end-of-life care
want a better understanding about concerns of people nearing death,
specifically advance care planning, preferred medical practices, pain
management, spiritual support and hospice care.
In November 2002 Idaho received a D+ grade in the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation’s Last Acts Means to a Better End: A Report on Dying in
America Today. According to the report, people in Idaho frequently die
in pain, want to die at home (although 70 percent die in an institution),
and would like the support of a hospice but don’t understand their options.
Most adults in Idaho have not completed a living will and durable power of
attorney for health care, although they would like to have their wishes
known for end-of-life care.
Survey data will reveal Idaho-specific concerns and issues and make it
possible to raise awareness, improve services and provide education around
end-of-life issues in Idaho. Survey outcomes will benefit health care
providers, legislators, policy makers and other service providers, and most
importantly, people near the end of life and their families.
This project has the potential to touch people of all ages and every
household in Idaho by providing information that will help care providers
better serve people now and into the future. Similar statewide survey
projects have been successfully completed in Montana, Nebraska,
Massachusetts, North Carolina and some smaller communities.
Additional project sponsors include AARP Idaho; First Choice Home Health and
Hospice; Four Rivers Home Health and Hospice; Hospice of North Idaho Inc.;
Hospice of the Wood River Valley; National Association of Social Workers,
Idaho Chapter; Idaho Health Care Association; Idaho State Hospice
Organization; Life’s Door’s Hospice; Magic Valley Regional Medical Center;
Sisson & Sisson, the Elder and Disability Law Firm; Saint Alphonsus Regional
Medical Center; Interfaith Alliance of Idaho; and Qualis Health.
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Contacts: Annette Totten, Center for the Study of Aging, (208)
426-5899,
annettetotten@boisestate.edu; Cheryl Simpson-Whitaker, A Better
Way Coalition, (208) 429-1203,
abetterway@cableone.net
Media Contacts: Kathleen Craven, University Communications, (208)
426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu
Boise State University is the largest institution of higher education in
Idaho with about 18,600 students and 2,200 faculty and staff. More than 190
undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and technical degrees are offered within
eight colleges. A metropolitan university located in the capital city, Boise
State is committed to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and
public service.
The Office of Communications and Marketing
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Boise State University
1910 University Drive -
Education Building, #726 -
Boise Idaho 83725-1030
208-426-1577
(fax)208-426-4001
email communications@boisestate.edu
Last reviewed on Wednesday, January 03, 2007