Glossary
End-of-life care is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients who are in the final stages of a serious, often life-limiting illness, and their families. This type of care aims to improve the quality of life for patients and provide comfort, dignity, and peace during their last days.
End-of-life care is all encompassing and addresses:
Physical symptoms:
Such as pain, breathlessness, or nausea
Psychological symptoms
Such as anxiety, depression, and fear
Emotional support:
For patients and their families
Coping skills
Bereavement support
Counseling
End-of-life care can be provided in various settings including:
Hospitals
Hospices
Nursing homes
The patient's own home
The care team may include:
Doctors
Nurses
Social workers
Chaplains
Advanced planning:
Discussions between patients, their families, and their healthcare providers about the patient's wishes and preferences for care at the end of life.
This may include decisions about:
Life-sustaining treatments such as resuscitation or artificial nutrition and hydration
Preferences for where the patient would like to be cared for and die
Palliative care
Aims to relieve suffering and improve the quality of life
Holistic approach to care
Can be provided alongside curative treatments
Is not just for those who are dying
It involves the management of physical symptoms, such as pain, as well as addressing emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
Hospice care:
Specifically for those who are in the final stages of life
Focuses on comfort and quality of life, rather than cure
Hospice care can be provided in a variety of settings, including:
The patient's home
A hospice facility
A hospital
A nursing home
In conclusion, end-of-life care is a comprehensive approach to care that aims to meet the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients who are in the final stages of a serious, often life-limiting illness, and their families.
