Question

End-of-life care becomes an issue at some point for elderly clients. Even with the emergence of palliative care programs and hospice programs, the majority of elderly people do not die in their own home as is their preference. What are the reasons for this trend? Discuss what you can do as a nurse to support your clients in end-of-life care and in supporting their desires. Support your response with evidence-based literature.

Answer 1

In previous days, the elderly people use to stay at home itself under the care of younger generation or their siblings. But this trend has changed and many are now living in nursing homes or though they are living with their family, the young people usually not having enough time because of the full-time job factor. This causes the elderly people not to receive the enough care they actually needed and deserve from the family members. Some people may think it is better to admit in a nursing home to provide a better care because there they can receive regular attention.

Though proper health care is provided by the medical staff, the love and affection the people get from their family members is different. In case of end-of-life care, providing love and affection, psychological support, respecting and fulfilling their desire is important. As a health care professional, a nurse must meet the above requirements to provide the maximum comfort to the people receiving end-of-life care.

As a health care professional or a nurse must meet the certain requirements to provide the maximum comfort to the people receiving end-of-life care. Most of the patients generally suffer from the compromised liver, brain, lungs, kidney and cardiac functioning and dyspnoea may be the common symptom in most of the cases. Providing oxygen supply though does not cure the disease, it may be considered as a palliative care because it offers comfort to the patient or it may sometimes be helpful in patient recovery as well. Providing oxygen supplementation is better than completely avoiding any medical care to the patient, it may increase the comfort measure.

Ref: http://www.nhs.uk/Planners/end-of-life-care/Pages/what-is-end-of-life-care.aspx