Think about your last few conversations at end of life care with patients and families. What did you find most difficult?
- Not sure what to say or how to put into words that their family member is dying or likely to die soon
- Outcome and timing of the dying process was uncertain so you couldn’t give an exact trajectory or a timescale when family ask
- Family were very upset, distressed, emotional, angry and this was difficult to deal with at the time
- You were unaware of what the family had previously been told by other members of the healthcare team – not certain if they had been told the patient was dying
- Family had unrealistic expectations of what treatment options were available for someone who is dying
- Explaining that some treatments will not work and may be distressing to the patient when they are dying – such as CPR
- How to be sensitive yet giving difficult information at a pace and level which family will be able to understand
- Discussing nutrition and hydration when the patient has a swallowing difficulty or is refusing food and drink
Page last reviewed: 16 Jan 2023
