End of Life Care Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of palliative care?

Prevent and relieve suffering; improve quality of life for patients with serious life limiting illnesses.

What are some goals of palliative care?

Regard dying as a normal process; provide relief from symptoms; affirm life; support holistic patient care; offer support to live actively; support families during illness.

What is the purpose of hospice care?

To provide compassion, concern, and support for persons in the last phases of a terminal disease.

What are the main goals of hospice care?

Assist the patient to live fully, comfortably, and to die pain-free and with dignity. Signup and view all the answers

What are some major differences between hospice and palliative care?

Palliative care allows simultaneous curative and palliative treatments; hospice focuses on terminal patients and family support. Signup and view all the answers

What are the goals for end of life care?

Provide comfort and supportive care; improve quality of remaining life; ensure a dignified death; provide emotional support to family. Signup and view all the answers

What causes the death rattle?

Mouth breathing and accumulation of mucus in the airways. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Cheyne-Stokes respiration?

Alternating periods of apnea and deep, rapid breathing. Signup and view all the answers

Hearing is usually the last sense to disappear.

True Signup and view all the answers

Touch sensation increases as death approaches.

False Signup and view all the answers

What happens to taste and smell as disease progresses?

They decrease. Signup and view all the answers

What are some signs of visual changes near death?

Blurring of vision, sinking and glazing of eyes, absent blink reflex, eyelids half-open. Signup and view all the answers

What are some cardiovascular changes at end of life?

Increased heart rate, irregular rhythm, decreased blood pressure. Signup and view all the answers

What changes occur in the respiratory system at end of life?

Increased respiratory rate; Cheyne-Stokes respiration; inability to cough; irregular breathing. Signup and view all the answers

What are the urinary system changes seen at the end of life?

Gradual decrease in urine output; incontinence; inability to urinate. Signup and view all the answers

What gastrointestinal changes may occur at the end of life?

Slowing or cessation of GI function; accumulation of gas; loss of sphincter control. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the musculoskeletal system at end of life?

Gradual loss of ability to move; difficulty speaking and swallowing. Signup and view all the answers

What integumentary changes can be observed near death?

Mottling on skin; cold, clammy skin; cyanosis; waxlike appearance. Signup and view all the answers

What are psychosocial manifestations at end of life?

Altered decision making, fear of loneliness and pain, anxiety about unfinished business. Signup and view all the answers

What does bereavement refer to?

The state of loss following the death of a loved one during which grief is experienced. Signup and view all the answers

What is grief?

The reaction of loss; a normal response to losing a loved one. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Palliative Care

Aims to prevent and relieve suffering while improving the quality of life for patients with serious, life-limiting illnesses.
Emphasizes treating dying as a natural process and provides symptom relief, especially pain management.
Supports holistic care and enables patients to remain active as long as possible, assisting families during illness and bereavement.

Hospice Care

Focuses on compassionate support for individuals in the final phases of a terminal disease.
Aims to ensure patients live comfortably, die pain-free, and maintain dignity.

Differences Between Hospice and Palliative Care

Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments, while hospice care is for those not seeking curative options.
Palliative care focuses on the patient, while hospice care also emphasizes family support.

Goals for End of Life Care

Provide comfort and supportive care throughout the dying process.
Improve the remaining quality of life for patients.
Ensure a dignified death experience.
Offer emotional support to the patient’s family.

Symptoms and Changes Near Death

Death Rattle: Caused by mouth breathing and mucus accumulation in airways.
Cheyne-Stokes Respiration: Alternating periods of apnea and rapid breathing.
Hearing: Typically the last sense to diminish.
Touch: Decreased sensation; reduced pain and touch perception.
Taste and Smell: Gradually diminish with disease progression.
Sight: May include blurred vision, sinking or glazing of eyes, absent blink reflex, and half-open eyelids.

Changes in Body Systems Near Death

Cardiovascular: Increased heart rate, pulse irregularity, decreased blood pressure, delayed drug absorption.
Respiratory: Increased respiratory rate, irregular breathing, noisy congested breathing (death rattle).
Urinary: Decrease in urine output, possible incontinence, inability to urinate.
Gastrointestinal: Slowed GI function, gas accumulation, potential incontinence, bowel movement before death.
Musculoskeletal: Loss of movement ability, sagging jaw, difficulty in speaking and swallowing, loss of gag reflex.
Integumentary: Mottling of extremities, cold and clammy skin, potential cyanosis, waxlike skin near death.

Psychosocial Manifestations at End of Life

Altered decision making and increased anxiety about unfinished business.
Decreased socialization, fears of loneliness and pain, feelings of helplessness.
Life review, experiences of peace, restlessness, saying goodbyes, and withdrawal.

Grief and Bereavement

Bereavement: State of loss experienced following a loved one's death; mourning occurs during this period.
Grief: Reaction to loss; a normal response to the death of a loved one and associated with the loss of potential future experiences.

Kubler-Ross Stages of Grief

A framework for understanding the emotional responses to loss, encompassing denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the principles and goals of palliative care with these flashcards. Explore the purpose of palliative care, its focus on relieving suffering, and the support it provides for patients with serious illnesses.