Parvederm Corp

END-OF-LIFE ISSUES: PHYSIOLOGIC CHANGES AT THE END OF LIFE

COURSE DESCRIPTION For health care professionals to provide compassionate, quality care to patients at the end of life, they must understand the many changes the patient undergoes. Holistic endof-life care provides relief, comfort, and support whenever possible. It involves a comprehensive approach to the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects of the individual. The goal of this course is to examine one specific aspect of holistic end-of-life care: the physiologic changes in body systems associated with the end of life. Guidelines for the care of specific physical symptoms at the end of life will also be presented. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this course, you will be able to do the following: 1. Describe major physiologic changes at the end of life related to the cardiovascular system. 2. Describe major physiologic changes at the end of life related to the gastrointestinal system. 3. Describe major physiologic changes at the end of life related to the nervous system. 4. Describe end-of-life changes in the respiratory system. 5. Describe end-of-life changes in the renal system. 6. Describe end-of-life changes associated with malignancies. 7. Explain the end-of-life changes that occur with HIV/AIDS. 8. Describe clinical care guidelines for specific conditions at the end of life, including ascites, cachexia, and anorexia.

9. Describe clinical care guidelines for the end-of-life conditions of constipation and diarrhea. 10. Describe clinical care guidelines for the end-of-life conditions of cough and fatigue. 11. Describe clinical care guidelines for the end-of-life conditions of nausea and vomiting.

NTRODUCTION As an individual nears the end of his or her life, decisions about health care become more complex. Not only does physical care become important, but the patient’s emotional, social, spiritual, and psychological needs must also be addressed. Family and caregivers...