• No single word responses (at least 100+ words in each response) • Give examples • Cite resources • Give the questions some thought and answer honestly • Number your answers to correspond with the question • Worth 12 points / 5% 1. What is Palliative Care? Use and cite references. 2. What is Hospice Care? Use and cite references. 3. What is a death-denying society? Use and cite references. Give examples of how death-denying societies impact how people die.

1. Palliative care is a specialized medical approach aimed at providing relief from the symptoms and suffering associated with serious illness. It is a holistic approach that addresses not only physical pain but also emotional, psychological, and spiritual distress. Palliative care focuses on enhancing quality of life and providing support to patients and their families. It can be provided alongside curative or life-prolonging treatments.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), palliative care is defined as “an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.”

Palliative care is provided by a specialized team consisting of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other healthcare professionals. They work together to provide physical symptom management, emotional and psychological support, and assistance with decision-making, advance care planning, and coordination of care. The goal of palliative care is to improve the overall well-being of patients and their families, regardless of whether the illness is curable or not.

References:
– World Health Organization. (2002). Palliative Care. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/palliative-care
– National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. (n.d.). What is Palliative Care? Retrieved from https://www.nhpco.org/palliative
– Ferrell, B. R., & Coyle, N. (2013). Palliative Nursing: Improving End-of-Life Care. Oxford University Press.

2. Hospice care, on the other hand, is a specific type of palliative care that focuses on providing comfort and support to patients who are in the final stages of a terminal illness or nearing the end of life. Hospice care is generally provided when curative treatments are no longer effective or desired.

The primary goal of hospice care is to ensure that patients have the best possible quality of life until their death, by managing pain and other symptoms, addressing emotional and psychological needs, and providing support to both patients and their families. Hospice care is typically provided in the patient’s home, but it can also be provided in specialized hospice facilities or hospitals.

Hospice care is provided by an interdisciplinary team that includes doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, chaplains, and trained volunteers. They work together to develop a personalized care plan that meets the unique needs and preferences of each patient. The focus is on promoting comfort, dignity, and emotional well-being, and on supporting patients and their families throughout the dying process.

References:
– National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. (n.d.). What is Hospice Care? Retrieved from https://www.nhpco.org/hospice
– Doyle, D., Hanks, G., Cherny, N., & Calman, K. (2010). Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine. Oxford University Press.

3. A death-denying society refers to a cultural and societal mindset that avoids and denies discussions and acknowledgment of death and dying. It is a phenomenon characterized by a general reluctance to confront the reality of mortality, often leading to a lack of preparedness for end-of-life situations and a reluctance to engage in conversations about death and dying.

In a death-denying society, death is often seen as a failure rather than a natural part of life. There is a tendency to medicalize death and dying, with a focus on curing diseases and prolonging life at all costs, rather than recognizing and accepting the limits of medical intervention. Death-related topics are often avoided or euphemized, which can hinder open discussions about end-of-life care preferences and advance care planning.

This societal denial of death can have significant impacts on how people die. For example, it may lead to unnecessary and burdensome medical interventions at the end of life, increasing suffering and delaying access to appropriate palliative and hospice care. Patients and families may experience a lack of support and resources to navigate the complexities of end-of-life decision-making and coping with grief and loss.

Moreover, a death-denying society can contribute to a lack of awareness and understanding of palliative care and hospice services, resulting in limited access to these essential resources for those who need them. It can also contribute to a societal stigma surrounding death and dying, hindering conversations and support for individuals facing life-limiting illnesses and their families.

References:
– Kellehear, A. (2003). A Social History of Dying. Cambridge University Press.
– Sudore, R. L., Lum, H. D., You, J. J., Hanson, L. C., Meier, D. E., & Pantilat, S. Z. (2017). Defining Advance Care Planning for Adults: A Consensus Definition from the American College of Physicians, Society for General Internal Medicine, and American Geriatrics Society. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 53(5), 821-832. doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.12.331