Death and Dying

Objectives
1. Describe the 5 stages terminally ill people
generally pass through.
2. List 3 reasons why many people choose
hospice care when they are terminally ill.
3. Describe the functions of a living will.
4. Learn how to be of help to someone who
is dying.
When does death occur?
 In the Past
 When the heart and lungs ceased to
function
 In the Present
 CPR

 Life-Support Machines
Stages in the Acceptance of
Death
 1. Denial
 Initial shock

 Allows time to think about situation

 Patients should get 2nd opinion

 Just listen to them at this stage

Stages in the Acceptance of
Death
 2. Anger
 After they realize they are going to die

 Feel as though they’re being treated

unfairly
 Anger often directed at medical staff and
loved ones
 Let them know it’s ok to be angry and
accept their feelings
Stages in the Acceptance of
Death
 3. Bargaining
 This is a final attempt to avoid the
inevitable
 They may pray to God and promise to
reform life
 Continue to offer emotion support and
encourage to get a second opinion if they
haven’t already.
Stages in the Acceptance of
Death
 4. Depression
 Sad and worried about their affairs

 Can feel they are losing everything

 Just be with them, often times silently

Stages in the Acceptance of
Death
 5. Acceptance
 Its hard to imagine, but most people get
to this stage
 Have taken care of their affairs, final
arrangements and said their goodbyes
 At this stage, try and help them with any
last requests or arrangements that they
think they need.
Death with Dignity
 What dying people need
 Hospices
 Palliative Care
 Living Wills
What Dying People Need
 Try and allow them to have as much control
as possible
 They need to be able to express their
feelings
 Should be able to choose their doctor,
visitors, funeral arrangements and will
 Just listen and be honest to maintain trust
Hospices
 Allows you to die at home or in a home-like
environment
 Provides medical care, but no extensive
equipment
 Provides emotional and legal support for
family and patient
 Has unique features
 In home hospice teaches family patient care
Palliative Care
 Type of care for people who have illnesses
that do not go away and often get worse
 It focuses on improving quality of life, not
jut in ones body, but also in ones mind and
spirit
 Type of care provided depends on the
patients needs and what is important to
them
Palliative Care (continued)
 It includes setting goals for body, mind and
spirit
 Often helps patient make future plans
around health and medical care
 Includes education about understanding
ones illness and how it affects not just the
patient, but also loved ones
Living Will
 Helps with ethical issues, e.g. life-support
 A statement people can sign that instructs
their doctors to not use medical equipment
just to keep them breathing and their hearts
beating
 Takes the burden off the family
Medical Power of Attorney
 Legal document that lets you appoint someone
you trust to make decisions about your medical
care if you cannot make them yourself
 Also called a “Healthcare Proxy” or “Durable
power of attorney for healthcare”
 The person appointed usually is authorized to deal
with all medical situations and end-of-life
decisions
Medical Power of Attorney
(continued)
 To help the agent make these decisions, the
following should be discussed:
 Values about quality of life that are

important
 Types of decisions that might have to be
made