Death and Dying

Abstract

This chapter helps readers to understand what happens when someone reaches the end of life. It explains what good palliative care and end-of-life care looks like and how it can be achieved. It focuses on the following areas: involving the right services; managing pain and other symptoms; providing emotional, spiritual and social support; involving and supporting family and friends; advance care planning; shared decision-making; information and communication; death, and knowing what to expect; and bereavement support for all those left behind, including family, friends and staff. The issues are illustrated through the story of Victoria Willson, who had profound learning disabilities and died aged 43.