Chapter Learning Duration: 30 minutes
End of Life
What you will learn in this chapter
- Death and dying
- Definition of palliative care
- Definition of hospice care
- Advance directives: living will, medical power of attorney, DNR (do not resuscitate)
- Definition of metabolism
- Slowing down of metabolism in death and dying
- When death sets in
- What to do when death sets in
- Honouring family and friends from different cultures
- What about my own emotions with the client’s death
Chapter Summary
In this chapter, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the transition process that clients go through during the dying process. You will learn how to support clients as they transition, ensuring their comfort and dignity. The chapter will cover palliative care, which aims to improve the quality of life for patients and their families by managing pain and other distressing symptoms. You will also explore hospice care, which provides compassionate care for those in the final stages of life.
Additionally, you will understand advance directives, which are legal documents that outline a person’s wishes for medical care if they become unable to communicate. The chapter will explain how the metabolism slows down during the dying process and its effects on the body. You will learn the steps for performing postmortem care, ensuring respect and dignity for the deceased.
The chapter will also provide guidance on how to support the family during their time of grieving and how to manage your own personal grief. By the end of this chapter, you will be well-prepared to provide compassionate and comprehensive care to clients and their families during the end-of-life process.