Open AccessEnd-of-Life Care in Canada
Author(s) -
Robert Fowler,
Michael Hammer
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
clinical and investigative medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.391
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1488-2353
pISSN - 0147-958X
DOI - 10.25011/cim.v36i3.19723
Subject(s) - context (archaeology) , end of life care , health care , medicine , gerontology , intensive care , nursing , palliative care , intensive care medicine , political science , geography , archaeology , law
End-of-life care and planning is critically important to the next decades of health care in Canada. In our country, between 2005 and 2036, the number of seniors 65 years and older is projected to increase by up to 25%, and the number of deaths by 65%. The majority of patients are currently admitted to hospital and intensive care units at the end of life; however, up to 70% of elderly patients say they would prefer a less aggressive treatment plan focusing on providing comfort rather than a technologically supported, institutionalized death. Herein we provide a brief overview of the end-of-life care in the Canadian context, and highlight challenges and opportunities for health care system change in the coming decades.