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Most people nearing the end of life are capable of making their own decisions about care.
- True
- False
Most people nearing the end of life are not physically, mentally, or cognitively able to make their own decisions about treatment. As a result, advance care planning is essential to ensure that people receive care that reflects their values, goals, and informed preferences.
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What is palliative care?
- A. Care that provides symptom relief and other supports for people with serious illness
- B. Another term for hospice
- C. The default care choice when it is no longer possible to cure an illness
- D. Care that comes only when people die
Palliative care is defined by the IOM committee as care that provides relief from pain and other symptoms, supports quality of life, and is focused on patients with serious advanced illness and their families. Palliative care begins early in the course of treatment for a serious illness Hospice is a type of palliative care.
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Which groups are responsible for delivering care at the end of life?
- A. Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, rehabilitation therapists, and other clinicians
- B. Social workers and spiritual counselors
- C. Family members
- D. All of the above
End-of-life care is the responsibility of an interdisciplinary team that includes clinicians at all levels, social workers, spiritual counselors, pharmacists, and, in many ways most importantly, family members.
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When should advance care planning begin?
- A. 6 months before death
- B. Upon diagnosis with a serious illness
- C. It is never too early
- D. At age 50
Every American, no matter his or her age or health status, should discuss end-of-life care preferences with family members, health care agents, and care providers. The course of injury or illness cannot be predicted, and preferences may change, so it is important to have the conversation often.
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How many Americans age 65 and older die in the hospital?
- A. Nearly 1 out of 4
- B. Nearly 1 out of 2
- C. Nearly 2 out of 3
- D. Nearly 9 out of 10
About 1 in 4 Americans 65 and older dies in a hospital. One in three died at home. The majority of Americans express a preference for dying at home, which for some people may be an assisted living residence, nursing home, or skilled nursing facility.
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