Palliative and end-of-life care for the elderly

doi:10.1017/CBO9781107294967.049

Chapter 49 - Palliative and end-of-life care for the elderly

from Section IV - Principles of care for the elderly

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2016

Molly M. Hanson ,

Kristine Swartz and

Brooke K. Worster

Edited by

Jan Busby-Whitehead ,

Maria Fiatarone Singh and

William Reichel

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Jan Busby-Whitehead: Affiliation:
University of North Carolina
Christine Arenson: Affiliation:
Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
Samuel C. Durso: Affiliation:
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Daniel Swagerty: Affiliation:
University of Kansas
Laura Mosqueda: Affiliation:
University of Southern California
Maria Fiatarone Singh: Affiliation:
University of Sydney
William Reichel: Affiliation:
Georgetown University, Washington DC

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Summary

As a call for greater quality in end-of-life care has emerged, the demand for specialized palliative care has grown to better address the specific needs of patients and families coping with serious illness. Many essential aspects of palliative care can be successfully provided by the patient’s primary care provider or existing specialists. Successful communication with patients and families about issues surrounding serious illness and end-of-life care is an essential skill for all health care providers. Patients often have a significant symptom burden at the end of life; pain, nausea, delirium, and dyspnea are amongst the most common. Recognizing and aggressively treating these symptoms can provide both patient and family with a “good death.” As the population ages, most clinicians will participate in the care of patients who are imminently dying, so it is important to be comfortable managing their care. There are several physiologic changes that occur in the last hours or days of life that need to be recognized so that families can be counselled and the patient receive adequate treatment.

Type: Chapter
Information: Reichel's Care of the Elderly
Clinical Aspects of Aging
, pp. 671 - 684

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107294967.049 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2016

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Chapter 49 - Palliative and end-of-life care for the elderly

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