This program is focused on talking about issues that are not often discussed in a timely way, if at all. Most of the time survivors do not have the language to talk about death and dying and do not know how to have these conversations. The focus of this program is on using survivor stories to illustrate common end of life issues. It is useful both for patients to better understand how to articulate their needs and concerns, and also for providers to better understand the issues that patients are often thinking about and how they are thinking about them.
Tips for the provider to keep in mind:
- This program tells the stories of survivors with advanced disease as they talk with their providers and others about end of life.
- The physiological aspects of dying are often important for survivors to understand.
- Health care professionals can help initiate discussion about dying by talking about personal experiences.
- Sometimes we overlook the fact that persons who are dying are also still living, and they may need emotional help to live as fully as possible until they die.
Note: To download the mp3 files, right- click a link and select 'Save Target As' or 'Save Link As'.
Introduction
Hear about many different resources that confront the stages of dying and focus on reassuring cancer survivors.
Survivor Stories: Choices and Control
Hear Betsy explain about her mother’s condition worsening and how they worked together to make straightforward decisions.
Managing Hope and Expectations
Hear the narrator explain that persons who are dying are also still living and should maintain hope.
Survivor Stories: Managing Anxiety and Depression
Listen to Darrel, a cancer survivor, explain how anxiety affected his life and what he did to deal with it.
Survivor Stories: To Treat or Not to Treat
Hear a support group talk through the decision of ending aggressive treatment and learn the importance of palliative care and support at this time.
Survivor Stories: Living with Dying
Listen to Lupe, a hospice nurse, talk through the last few months of life and explain that comfort should be the number one priority.
Hospice and Palliative Care
Hear about what hospice does and be reassured that you have the right to choose aggressive treatment or to settle at home at end of life.
Survivor Stories: Symptom Management
Learn some of the symptoms one might encounter when nearing the end of their life. Understanding these symptoms is important to ensure comfort and support.
Signs of Approaching Death
Listen to a list of the most common physical signs that a body may be approaching death.
Survivor Stories: Role of Spirituality
Hear how a person’s spirituality can help them find a meaning in the end of life.
Survivor Stories: Managing Grief
Learn about “the tasks of mourning” as they are a part of the normal grief process.
Conclusion
Hear of a few more resources that can put end of life in perspective and be a support to survivors and their families.
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