fundamentals
Treatment Options at the End of Life
Feeding tubes
People who are dying often stop eating and drinking as they near death. Food and water given through tubes (artificial nutrition and hydration) do not usually make a dying person feel better (see Loss of appetite ) or live significantly longer. Feeding tubes may cause discomfort and even make death occur sooner. Side effects of feeding tubes include pneumonia, swelling caused by an accumulation of fluid (edema), and pain. If undesired, these measures can be prohibited by People who are debilitated or who have severely wasted away may live for several weeks with no food and minimal hydration. Family members should understand that stopping fluids does not result in the person’s immediate death and ordinarily does not hasten death when the person simply is uninterested in taking or unable to take fluids by mouth. Home careis medically supervised care in a person’s home by professional caregivers who may help give drugs, assess the person’s condition, and provide baths and other personal services. Hospice careis care at the end of life that emphasizes relief of symptoms and provides emotional, spiritual, and social support for a dying person and family members. The setting may be the person’s home, a hospice facility, or another institution, such as a nursing home. Hospice-type care is provided in some hospitals. To obtain hospice care, a person usually has to be expected to live less than 6 months. Nursing homecare is residential care in a licensed facility with nurses and support workers. Palliative careis specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care emphasizes relief of symptoms and stress for a seriously ill person and family members. Respite careis temporary care at home, in a nursing home, or in a hospice facility that enables family members or other caregivers to travel, rest, or attend to other matters. It may last days or weeks, depending on the care delivery system and funding. Voluntary organizationsprovide a variety of financial and support services to people who are ill and their families. Such organizations usually focus on people who have a certain disease. (See also Settings for Care for Older People .) 