You decide what quality care at the end of life means for you.
Your care continues even after all treatments have stopped. End-of-life care is more than what happens moments before dying. Care is needed in the days, weeks, and sometimes even months before death. During this time, many patients feel it's important to:
- Have their pain and symptoms controlled.
- Avoid a long process of dying.
- Feel a sense of control over what is happening to them.
- Cause less emotional and financial burden on the family.
- Become closer with loved ones.
Your doctors and family need to know the kind of end-of-life care you want.
Make end-of-life care decisions early.
You may be able to think about your options more clearly if you talk about them before the decisions need to be made. It's a good idea to let your doctors, family, and caregivers know your wishes before there is an emergency.