Providing Comfort at the End-of-Life

What is End-of-Life comfort care?

Talking beforehand with an individual that can guide you and your loved one is helpful.  However, if you are unable to do so, here are a few things to consider when an individual is dying:

What is End-of-Life (EOL) Care?
This is the support and medical care given as one is dying.
There are many decisions to be made beforehand, so if you are able, please begin having conversations with loved ones about your wishes at EOL.

Remember that dying is more than just physical.  It involves emotional and spiritual aspects as well.

Physical Needs:
Pain, Breathing, Fatigue etc.

Mental and Emotional Needs:
Anxiety, depression, confusion, involvement

Spiritual Needs:
Some individuals may rely on faith, others may pull back from faith.

With each of these needs, involve the dying as much as you can, speak kindly and make no corrections and be emotionally and spiritually present for your loved one, so as to be able to best support them.

Please don't forget about the caregivers as well.  Here are some questions you might ask those that are supporting the dying:

• How are you doing today?
  
• Do you need someone to talk with?​
• Who has offered to help you? Do you want me to work with them to coordinate our efforts?
• Can I help … maybe walk the dog, answer the phone, go to the drug store or the grocery store, or watch the children (for example) … for you?

Providing Comfort at the End-of-Life