Baycrest

Palliative Care Manual 2016

Baycrest Health Sciences & Baycrest Foundation Publications

Issue link: http://baycrest.uberflip.com/i/796458

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 22 of 67

Baycrest - End of Life Volunteer Manual 22 EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES AND SUPPORT WHAT IS A GOOD DEATH? Dying is a very intimate, personal experience. Each person will have his or her own definition of "dying well" that will be affected by his or her personality, gender, culture, ethnicity, and spiritual beliefs. However, most people believe that dying well includes: • Being pain free • Having a sense of choice and control over what happens in their lives while gradually relinquishing the responsibility for their care to significant others • Maintaining their dignity and privacy • Having access to emotional and spiritual support • Resolving long-standing conflicts • Satisfying final wishes • Having time to say good-bye What people need near end of life: • Good symptom control • Feeling of security • Not to feel they are a burden • To still have value • Expressions of affection • Clear explanations of the disease processes • Acceptance regardless of mood • The opportunity to be involved in decision-making THE EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS OF THE DYING PERSON Each person diagnosed with a life threatening or terminal illness will have a unique emotional reaction to impending death and unique needs, losses, fears and hopes.

Articles in this issue

view archives of Baycrest - Palliative Care Manual 2016