End of Life Care
End of life care is care and support given to people who are likely to be in the last months or weeks of their life. The focus of this care is on comfort and dignity whilst:
- managing symptoms
- supporting those close to the patient
It can be delivered in the hospital, community, your home or a hospice.
Caring for a person who is in the last days of their life is an important responsibility for any health or social care professional. At CHFT we strive to deliver excellent compassionate end of life care.
The care must be individualised, and take account of the person’s needs and wishes. Consideration will also be given to the needs and views of people who are close to them.
End of life care helps the supportive and palliative care needs of both patient and family to be identified and met throughout the last phase of life and into bereavement.
It is underpinned by:
- Anticipation and management of deterioration in the patient’s condition
- Advance care planning in accordance with patient preferences about place of care and death (for example, if a patient doesn’t wish to die in hospital)
- Effective coordination of care across all teams and providers.
Care of the dying patient
This incorporates four key areas of care:
- Physical
- psychological
- social and spiritual
- supports the family or those close to them at this time and into bereavement.
Use of an individualised care plan whether in a hospital ward, at home, or in the hospice, allows the whole healthcare team to deliver appropriate care to patients who are dying, through sensitive communication, symptom management, and meeting all care needs.
The care plan we use in CHFT acute trust is called the Last Days of Life Document (LDLD). In Calderdale Community it is called the Individualised Care of the Dying Document (ICODD). Our staff will be happy to discuss these with you. An information leaflet about the care your loved one will receive is also available.