What are effective ways to educate patients about end-of-life care?

Some end of life care patients are unresponsive and unable to comunicate their wishes - talk to the family. They know them best and make the last moments special. I used to be an ICU Manager. One day a 5year old told me he knows his dad will die but he would never know if his hands did grow bigger than his dad's hands, that what his dad used to tell him. I bought clay, made him handprints. We continued doing this practice. I forgot about this but 13 years later received a photo - his hands did grow bigger than his dad's hands. That clay print became very important to this young man. We have received so many letters from kids over the years, they value what we have done. We should remember to make the last moments special even for family.

One of the things you have to be mindful about with end of life situations is the party being treated with respect and importance. These are the last days, weeks of their life and the things they say have to be given some weight of respect. Whether it's final wishes that they have or simply to share what's been important to them, don't disregard these last expressions that they will ever have to share.

It is critically important to ensure individuals prepare an Advance Directive and have discussions with their loved ones about their end of life wishes. It's never too early to complete an advance directive. Advance directives and decisions may change over time and evolve. Having an updated advance directive on file with one's care team and with one's carepartner, health proxy, or personal representive is of essence.

Do everything in your power to make them as informed as possible. Having the right people come in to make them aware of their situation and everything that goes with it, these folks need reassurance that when they're gone, things will be okay.

The patient's goals and preferences should always be prioritised in end-of-life care planning, even when patients or families make decisions that differ from our inititial recommendations. In occupational therapy, prescription of equipment like hospital beds and pressure-relieving mattresses are often recommended for people with reduced mobility receiving end-of-life care at home, but this will not always be what the patient or family wants. They may want to stay in their own bed with their spouse, even if this increases their risk of pressure injuries, or makes bed cares more difficult. Explaining risks, exploring alternative options and allowing dignity of risk in the eventual choice is essential.

This is a scary time for them. People of Faith or a belief of a hereafter I have a little more confidence about what's going on then say those that are scared. Help them be reassured by asking them even questions about end of life issues. If you can talk with them about their faith, use that to reassure them. Maybe they have other things they want to talk about. Listen and don't judge. Once again this is about them not you

Patients living with life-altering, life-limiting conditions should be connected to palliative care early in their care journey. Palliative care is an extension of one's regular care team to ensure that one's quality of life and whole person care is met.

Honor their wishes. Preparing to speak on the topic of End-of-life is not an easy task, however by honoring the wishes of the person who is transitioning the process becomes manageable.

When my dad died a few years ago, it was important to allow those in the family that wanted to come and spend time with him to do so. It enriched his days and it gave a level of Solace to the family that came to cry and to laugh with him. No matter the level of mental cognitiveness, family needs to reassure him or her that everything's fine and the person going through the grief or the impending grief needs to have what's coming.

Regular interdisciplinary meetings including the patient or their representative keep everyone updated and give voice to the plan to be reviewed and revised. The hurdle to overcome is the geographical and time constraints. My vision and hope for the future is that we will use virtual reality hosting spaces in which we meet as avatars or ourselves, see the same display and medical record information, and that we all provide our perspectives in real time. If we could use LLM technology as secretary to record the plan and action steps, it could save time and reduce error. I have been fortunate to use this technology. It is very empowering for a team. Technology is evolving rapidly and innovations are right around the corner.

Don't try to make a big scene when you gather together with family. You may be the caregiver but you've had plenty of time to spend with that loved one preparing them and keeping their quality of life on track. Give space and allow intimate moments to be just that without your presence in every aspect. People handle these type of Life moments in different ways and no one way is better than any other. So let each family member say goodbye and share whatever is important to them without a interference of any form. Yes you want to make sure the well-being of that passing person is maintained, but most loved ones are not there too create hardship or a miserable end of life situation. Losing someone that's hard. Make it an easy transition.

Educating patients about end-of-life care clinically involves advanced care planning, physician-patient communication, patient education materials, support groups, and family involvement. Advanced care planning empowers patients to express their preferences for healthcare decisions when incapacitated. Open, empathetic communication between healthcare providers and patients helps inform decisions. Patient education materials clarify end-of-life care options. Support groups offer emotional support, and involving families in decision-making ensures alignment with the patient's wishes. These clinical methods prioritize patient-centered, informed, and compassionate end-of-life care.