Premium
Therapeutic support in the final stage of life: Quality of life/quantity of life—A case report
Author(s) -
Tapia Sara E,
Olivares Claudia A
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.040999
Subject(s) - pleasure , psychology , quality of life (healthcare) , face (sociological concept) , autonomy , everyday life , social psychology , psychotherapist , sociology , law , political science , social science
Background To describe the challenges as speech therapists of accompanying a person with Alzheimer's disease, especially when they are close to death, it is important to talk about quality of life and decision making. As therapists and people, it is important to question what our role is at this stage. What are the considerations we should have? What is the limit between quantity and quality of life? The use of gastrostomy in advanced stages deserves analysis and discussion. Method qualitative, case report, descriptive, participant observation. Result 72‐year‐old CS patient with Alzheimer's disease 12 years ago, accompanied by a speech therapist 5 years ago. Constant work is done to educate the family about communication and food, with critical issues such as changing the way of feeding (oral or gastrostomy) and maintaining tasting for pleasure. They face complex realities at the medical, ethical and emotional levels. Conclusion it is difficult to face death, and to know what is the limit of our role as therapist?, the decision? When do we limit the freedom to decide to die? Issues such as the information that affected people and families handle about their health situation, obstinacy or therapeutic cruelty become relevant when talking about autonomy, the possibility of deciding will always be mediated by the information handled by the person and the true freedom of decision. That is why we question our participation, respecting the freedoms and autonomies of all beyond our professional knowledge and scientific evidence that confronts us permanently with more ways to extend life.