Death and dying. Why is it so taboo? After a thought-provoking guest lecture by on palliative care, here were my takeaways:
- Palliative care is about maximizing quality of life for whatever amount of life the patient has.
- Palliative care is not only limited to geriatrics, nor is it only limited to hospice care.
- All hospice is palliative care, but not all palliative care is hospice. Try to wrap your mind around that.
- The concept of "death cafe" and "dinner and death," where people meet up over coffee or dinner to chat about death. People actually do this, and I kind of want to too now!
- There are fascinating games to get the conversation going about death. A few we were exposed to include: My Gift of Grace, Go Wish, and Natural Dying Living Will Cards (specifically for dementia)
- Ask your patients the following questions: What do you understand about your health condition? What do you anticipate treatment to look like? This not only allows for clear communication, but you more often than not, you find that the patient and family are extremely uninformed. It is our job to educate!
- Arrange an advanced directive to make it easier for loved ones. It is not technically a legally binding document, and you do not need the presence of an attorney - only two witnesses over age 18.
- Above all, hope for the best but plan for the worst. Isn't that what life is all about?
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