What does “end of life care” in the elderly?

[Anothernamechangeee]

My friend’s mother is in her late 80s and has a bad infection, heart problems and has had a fall. She is very very weak and the family have been called to her bedside. She’s been told she will have “end of life care” but I’m not sure exactly what that means, I don’t want to intrude to my friend but want to support her. Does this mean she will have pain relief but no fluids? Could she have hours / days / weeks left? Her mother signed a DNR when she was taken to A&E.

TIA for any insight

From previous experience I would think its pain relief and kept comfortable as possible. X

I've been through this just this week when my 90 year old nan died in hospital. Hip fracture 3 weeks ago and they discovered secondary liver cancer while in hospital . She was fully with it and opted for no chemo and the palliative pathway with the hope of moving to a nursing home for last few months

End of life care started early hours of Wednesday

No more iv fluids , observations or painful changes of position to prevent pressure sores

No more pressure to eat , drink or do physio . As a family we were encouraged to order her meals for ourselves to eat as we made sure she was never without one of us there

By 10am Wednesday she was on a syringe driver for morphine and whilst still able to chat , had a chesty cough and getting more sleepy

End of life pathway ( they called it swan and put a swan picture on the door ) meant that I was able to stay with her all of Wednesday night and nurses gave her sedatives , anti nausea and top up painkillers as soon as I let them know that she was starting to get agitated . She was pretty much unconscious rather than sleeping from 7pm Wednesdays but I was able to help with her mouthcare and advocate for her when she was less peaceful

I went home to sleep Thursday am and she died with my mum and uncle next to her at 3:30 pm

End of life care was amazing and far better than the care she had received in a busy ward for the past 3 weeks. The nurses took their time and made a massive difference to our final memories with nan

I would recommend watching the Kathryn manix ted talk called what happens when we die . It was reassuring and help me to prepare to help my nan on her final journey .

It was indescribably hard but an utter privilege

Pain killers, no intravenous fluids but they can have food and water if able to cope with eating/drinking. They will keep as comfortable as possible

If she wants to drink and eat and can swallow this should still be offered. She won’t be for active treatment anymore and comfort and pain relief will be prioritised . I can’t say how long she will live. I’ve known eol patients die in a matter of hours and some will go onto a nursing home.

Sorry for your loss @Racingadmin

The above posters have said what I was going to type but there are some really informative articles here which explain end of life care well - https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/professionals/palliative-care-knowledge-zone

I’m sorry for your friend and my condolences to @Racingadmin x

Aside from pain relief, if needed, keeping their mouth moist with those little sponges on sticks.

I’ve done this for an aunt (with dementia) in a care home who was consistently refusing food and drink after the umpteenth UTI.
TBH she was asleep most of the time and drifted away quite peacefully after several days.

Thanks, this is all so helpful

sorry for everyone’s loss

As above.
Be aware it can last a long time. My mother (advanced dementia) was put on end of life pathway mid May 2020 and died at the end of June.