fundamentals
Treatment Options at the End of Life
Location
Often, dying people and their family members may prefer to have the final days at home—a familiar, supportive setting—and not in a hospital. For people who are at home, this usually requires a reminder to all caregivers not to call an ambulance when symptoms indicate the approach of death (see When Death Is Near ). For people who are in the hospital, staff can help families arrange for the person to go home with all necessary treatments for comfort, such as drugs and a hospital bed. If hospitalization is preferred, or is unavoidable, it is especially important to have the person’s decisions regarding undesired interventions documented. 