As the dying resident may be clinically unstable, proactive management is necessary.
- Talk to the patient, family and carers about plans for their care
- Review anticipatory prescribing
- Ensure medicines are immediately available
- Doses should be regularly reviewed based on frequent reassessment of symptoms
- For persistent problems chart regular medications
- Always chart 'as needed' doses of required medications to cover 'breakthrough symptoms'
These include pain, nausea, delirium, agitation, shortness of breath
- Administer medications by the most reliable route. In the dying patient, this is generally subcutaneous (SC)
Caring for a dying patient can be a trigger to review processes in working with residential aged care staff.
The following resources provide information on the provision of care for residents dying in residential aged care:
Page updated 25 February 2022