Death and Dying Flashcards
2 clinical definitions of death
Irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions
Irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain
Changes in the weeks before death
Minimal appetite, easily digested foods Increased need for sleep, increased weakness Incontinence of bladder and bowel Restlessness and disorientation Increased need for assistance
Changes in the days before death
Decreased consciousness Pauses in breathing Decreased blood pressure Decreased urine volume, darkened urine Murmuring, reaching, picking Need for assistance with all care
Changes in the hours before death
Decreased consciousness or comatose Inability to swallow Pauses in breathing are longer Shallow breaths Weak or absent pulse Knees, feet, hands are cold and discoloured Noisy breathing Skin is pale
Social death
When others begin to dehumanize and withdraw from someone who is terminally ill or has a terminal illness
Ignoring them, talking like they aren’t present, not consulting them, forcing unwanted procedures
Reasons for social death
Don’t know what to say to them
Protective distance: keep them from thinking of themselves of becoming ill
Repeated experience of loss of paid caregivers causes them to distance to prevent continual grief
Perceptions of death in infancy
No true comprehension but can react to the separation caused
Perceptions of death in early childhood
Lack an understanding of death
Difficulty distinguishing reality and fantasy
Don’t see it as permanent
May think they caused it
Perceptions of death in middle-late childhood
Magical thinking, but understand the finality of death
Think that they can bring them back through their thoughts
May think they could have prevented it
May think the death is due to a wrongdoing of the deceased
Perceptions of death in adolescence
Understand death and ponder their existence
May have a fascination with death
Personal fable makes them think they are immune to death
Perceptions of death in early adulthood
Don’t worry much about death, expect a long life
Young adults who are dying often feel cheated, losing what they might have achieved
Perceptions of death in middle adulthood
Greater fear of death due to caretaking responsibilities for children and parents
Perceptions of death in late adulthood
Lower fear of death
Fewer caregiving responsibilities
Less future opportunities
Accustomed to likelihood of death
Curative Care
Focus on overcoming the disease/illness
Complete recovery
Palliative care
Focuses on comfort and relief
Those dying or with chronic illnesses
Hospice care
Team who provide terminally ill patients and family members with support
Lessen pain without invasive treatments
Care of family as a single unit
Personal directive
Documents that identify a health care agent and the health carte initiatives of an individual
Living will
Medical order
Developed in collaboration with a medical professional for a seriously ill patient
Decisions on life-sustaining treatments (do not resuscitate, do not hospitalize etc.)
Cultural differences in death
Influence how health care providers and family members communicate information and decisions
Are patients told about their health or is it concealed?
Decisions by patient, family, or doctor?
Artificial eating?
Advantages of open awareness for a dying individual
Can close life in accord with their own ideals
Complete plans and make arrangements
Opportunity to reminisce
More understanding of their body and treatments
