Lesson 14: End of Life Care

Attention

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Identify risk factors related to end of life care
  • Identify specific case management interventions that address end of life care

Teaching

Read Chapter 10 in Vaillant

Clinical Roles of Mental Health Professionals in End of Life Care

Consider the specific skills that a "case manager" and "mental health worker" has when dealing with issues related to end of life care. Our efforts can help the person experience a "good death"...free of conflict, pain, and anxiety (as much as possible).

  • Planning for end of life
  • Coping with diagnosis
  • Risk factors for family members and family structure
  • Physical symptoms and grieving
  • Working with family members
  • Decision making

Conflict at End of Life

As bizarre as it may see, families dealing with end of life issues can experience a lot of conflict related to unresolved issues, grieving, estate assets, decision making, personal care

Issues with People who are Dying

  • Emotional issues
  • Spiritual issues
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Delirium
  • Capacity

Read information about the Maine Hospice Council

The journey into hospice care is an emotional one for the client and their loved ones. The website hospicenet.org has a collection of stories about the journey. To gain some insight into the journey read Susan's Story from their website.

Here is an example of a Social Worker Assessment for End of Life Planning. It provides an assessment framework used by some social workers and applies that framework to a case example.

Assessment

Lesson 14 Discussion (for online class only)

Share your thoughts about the idea of working with a consumer who may be needing hospice care and participating in end of life planning. This usually makes us each think about our own end of life planning. Feel free to share any personal experiences you have had with hospice care or end of life planning.

Lesson 14 Assignment

You are a case manager and you have been referred to the case of a terminally ill patient who is dying of AIDS related complications. The person lives in your home community. Research available resources and describe specific interventions that you may engage in to assist with the person's end of life care. (Be creative in relation to the case study in order to have a rich assignment.)

In Blackboard submit a 3-page plan of care (Page 1 = Title page, Pages 2-3 Body of Paper) that outline how are you going to set up resources and supports for end of life care that will cover EACH of the following:

  1. Planning for end of life
  2. Coping with diagnosis
  3. Risk factors for family members and family structure
  4. Physical symptoms and grieving
  5. Working with family members
  6. Decision making

...and at least one of the following:

  1. Emotional issues
  2. Spiritual issues
  3. Depression
  4. Anxiety
  5. Delirium
  6. Capacity

Your plan has to be "real" and reflect real resources and services in your home town.