The last days and hours

Palliative care’s goal is to improve and maintain quality of life for people living with life-threatening conditions and this includes living fully at the very end of life for those who die of their illnesses. Palliative care optimizes the symptom management associated with the dying process and also provides support to help people navigate the fears they may have about dying. It is therefore imperative that clinicians providing palliative care have the knowledge and skills to be able to help the patient, their family, and other healthcare professionals know what to expect during the dying process and how to manage the changes that come. This chapter will review the normal changes that can occur during the dying process, and how to recognize them and work with the patient and family to plan a good death.