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Modules:

  • Introduction
  • 1. Advance Care Planning
  • 2. Communicating Bad News
  • 3. Whole Patient Assessment
  • 4. Pain Management
  • 5. Assisted Suicide Debate
  • 6. Anxiety, Delirium
  • 7. Goals of Care
  • 8. Sudden Illness
  • 9. Medical Futility
  • 10. Common Symptoms
  • 11. Withholding Treatment
  • 12. Last Hours of Living
  • 13. Cultural Issues
  • 14. Religion, Spirituality
  • 15. Legal Issues
  • 16. Social and Psychological

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    Back to Module 16: Social and Psychological Considerations
    Introduction to Social and Psychological Considerations

    What are Social and Psychological Considerations in End of Life Care?
    Objectives of this Module

    What are Social and Psychological Considerations in End of Life Care?

    • These considerations are the relational, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses as one, or one’s loved one, approaches the end of life
    • Includes the social and psychological responses of the health professional working with persons at the end of life
    • Other modules have discussed aspects of social and psychological considerations:
      • Communication of bad news

      • Assessment of the whole person

      • Psychological and social impact of pain

      • Anxiety, depression, and delirium

      • Grief in the final hours
    • This module will address in greater depth
      • Psychological and social responses of the dying person and surviving family members, friends, and caregivers (including health care professionals)

      • Grief of the dying person, family members, friends, and caregivers

      • Complicated grief and referral to mental health professionals

      • Family conflict during end of life care

      • Ways that health care professionals can help dying persons, families, and other loved ones with the many losses that occur during end of life care

      • Ways that health care professionals working with persons at the end of life can understand and care for their own grief

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    Objectives of this Module

    • Understand the importance of considering psychological responses and social relationships during end of life care
    • Describe the tasks of grieving and signs of complicated grieving
    • Recognize what health care professionals can do to help dying persons and families with the grief process
    • Distinguish between grief and depression
    • Identify signs of family conflict during end of life care
    • Describe when to refer for additional help
    • Develop a greater awareness of one’s own grief in caring for dying persons
    • Describe how to take care of oneself, as a health care professional, in providing care to those at the end of life
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