Elderly man with prostate cancer receives year-long home palliative care, dies peacefully at home

An 84-year-old man in Tainan, Taiwan, received comprehensive palliative care at home for over a year, allowing him to pass away peacefully in his familiar surroundings. The Chi Mei Hospital's home care program provided continuous medical support, transforming his residence into a "mini-hospital."

The patient, identified as Mr. Wu, was diagnosed with prostate cancer a decade ago. After undergoing radiation therapy, he experienced side effects like hemorrhagic cystitis and blood in his urine. His mobility was limited, and he required a kidney drainage tube, causing his family significant worry about his care.

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The nurses visited the home two to three times a week, greatly reducing the family's caregiving pressure.

Chi Mei Hospital's home care unit seamlessly integrated into his treatment, offering services from home medical care to end-of-life palliative care starting in September 2024. The hospital's team visited frequently, managing his medications, instructing the family on tube care, and coordinating long-term care services and rehabilitation. Initially visiting once a month, the nurses increased their visits to two or three times a week, substantially reducing the family's caregiving stress.

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The hospital's medical team brought selfless love and professional medical spirit into the home, allowing my husband to receive the same quality of care at home as in the hospital.

Mr. Wu's wife expressed deep gratitude for the compassionate care, noting that the home care team, particularly unit leader Lu Yi-li, provided support akin to family. She felt reassured that her husband received hospital-quality care at home, enabling him to spend his final months in comfort. The hospital's nursing director, Chen Hui-man, highlighted the growing demand for home care in Taiwan's aging society, emphasizing the program's goal to provide continuous, comprehensive medical services in a familiar environment.

The home care unit served 1,234 cases in 2025, with about 100 receiving home palliative care. Half of these patients, like Mr. Wu, transitioned from home nursing to end-of-life care at home without returning to the hospital. The program serves individuals requiring post-discharge care, those with mobility issues, long-term bedridden patients, individuals with medical tubes, and those with chronic illnesses needing ongoing nursing guidance.

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The hospital's home care unit provides a one-stop service for patients after discharge, including home medical care, acute care, and palliative care, allowing patients to receive continuous and complete medical services in their familiar home environment, turning their homes into "mini-hospitals."