Some of the terms used can be confusing when you hear them for the first time. Below are some of the common terms used about end of life care:
Advance care planning: Thinking about, and planning for, how you wish to be cared for at the end of life.
Advance directive: a document that describes the healthcare you would and would not want if you were seriously ill and unable to speak for yourself.
Advance statement or Preferred Priorities of Care (PPC): A written document that states what your wishes are for your care and treatment. This can include your preferred place of death and your preferred place of care.
Care transition: a change in a patient’s care, from hospital to home, for example, or from one team of doctors to another, or from curative care to hospice care. Transitions are difficult for the patient and require planning, communication and careful monitoring.
Continuous care: one of the four levels of care mandated by the Medicare hospice benefit; up to 24 hours/day of clinical care in the home until symptoms are under control.
Do not attempt resuscitation (DNR): This expresses your wish for doctors to not attempt to resuscitate if your heart stops.
Dysphagia: difficulty swallowing.
Dyspnea: difficult or labored breathing.
Edema: an excess of fluid in body cavities or beneath the skin. It causes swelling and is very painful.
End of life care: End of life care is part of palliative care and is for people who are nearing the end of their life. End of life care aims to help you live as comfortably as possible, by managing physical symptoms and getting emotional support for you and those around you.
‘Just in case’ medicines: This describes medicines that your health care professional prescribes for you to keep at home so that they can easily be given to you at short notice.
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA): This gives another person the right to make certain decisions on your behalf.
Lymphoedema: There are 2 main types of lymphoedema:
- primary lymphoedema – caused by faulty genes that affect the development of the lymphatic system; it can develop at any age, but usually starts during infancy, adolescence, or early adulthood.
- secondary lymphoedema – caused by damage to the lymphatic system or problems with the movement and drainage of fluid in the lymphatic system; it can be the result of a cancer treatment, an infection, injury, inflammation of the limb, or a lack of limb movement.
Palliative care: Palliative care is for people living with a terminal illness. It is care designed to improve the quality of a person’s life and the lives of those who are close to them. You can receive palliative care at any stage in your illness. You can have palliative care alongside other therapies, treatments and medicines aimed at controlling your illness.