End of life care
End of Life Care
End of life care (pronunciation: /ɛnd ɒv laɪf kɛər/) is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on the quality of life and symptom relief for those who are suffering from a terminal illness or are in the last stages of life.
Etymology
The term "End of life care" is derived from the English words "end", "of", "life", and "care". It is a direct description of the care provided to individuals nearing the end of their life.
Definition
End of life care involves medical and support services for individuals in the final stages of life, typically those with a life expectancy of six months or less. It aims to provide comfort, alleviate pain and other distressing symptoms, while also addressing psychological and spiritual concerns of the patient and their family.
Related Terms
- Palliative Care: A specialized form of medical care that aims to provide relief from pain and other distressing symptoms. It is often used in conjunction with end of life care.
- Hospice Care: A type of care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's pain and symptoms and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life.
- Advance Care Planning: A process that helps individuals understand and share their personal values, life goals, and preferences regarding future medical care.
- Do Not Resuscitate (DNR): A legal order written either in the hospital or on a legal form to respect the wishes of a patient not to undergo CPR or advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) if their heart were to stop or they were to stop breathing.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on End of life care
- Wikipedia's article - End of life care
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