End of life care in England and Wales is the care given to a person in the last days of their life. There is some overlap with palliative care. NHS guidance says that end of life care should be personalised, which means that a health or social care professional needs to conduct a holistic, personalised assessment of the dying person's needs, and professionals should agree a plan that takes those needs into account.
Patient's goals, wishes and views
[edit]Patient's physical or medical needs
[edit]- Clinical signs and symptoms, pain management and relief of distress
- Agitation and/or delirium
- Hydration
- Anticipatory prescription, "just in case" prescription
- Dyspnea and death rattle
- Social care
Patient's social or psychological needs
[edit]- Company of loved ones
- Spiritual or religious needs
- Spouse or other loved one
- Child carers
- Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
- Royal College of Nursing