Palliative and End of Life Care

Abstract

Palliative and end of life care for older people are terms holding several meanings and varied interpretations across practice disciplines, healthcare systems, cultures, communities, and societies. Therapeutic relationships with older people who are living with life-limiting conditions, as well as those with diagnoses that do not carry a poor prognosis but do impair function and limit daily lifeways, anchor all palliative and end of life care. Nurses and therapists who leverage their distinctive disciplinary and professional approaches to engaging with the person and family aid the older person in achieving care preferences for daily life and end of life. Therapeutic relationships generate trust, creating the possibility of partnership where the older person divulges needs, preferences, and concerns. Such relationships are thus central to effective care. Ideally, nurses and therapists collaborate with the older person and each other to provide integrated and comprehensive expertise, resources, guidance, and education. This chapter highlights applicable theory, defines terms, critiques relevant evidence, and provides a case study from the literature to complement a practice example. Regular reflection on palliative and end of life care experiences, both personally and professionally, allows nurses and therapists to cultivate evolving professional comportment while advancing skill in this domain as they provide care to older people.