Taking care of Terminally ill Patients

Generally speaking, people who are dying need care in four areas: physical comfort, mental and emotional needs, spiritual needs, and practical tasks. Of course, the family of the dying person needs support as well, with practical tasks and emotional distress.Many want to be surrounded by family and friends, but it’s common for some to slip away while their loved ones aren’t in the room. When possible, there are steps you can take to increase the likelihood of a peaceful death for your loved one, follow their end-of-life wishes, and treat them with respect while they are dying.

End of life: Providing physical comfort

Discomfort during the dying process can come from a variety of sources. Depending on the cause of the discomfort, there are things you or a health care provider can do to help make the dying person more comfortable. For example, the person may be uncomfortable because of:
*Pain
8Breathing problems
*Skin irritation, including itching
*Digestive problems
*Temperature sensitivity
*Fatigue

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