Adapting to Dying and Bereavement of Geriatric Palliative Care

Palliative care has recognized the power of suffering of life threatening illness and is concerned with helping people to cope and adapt with these chronic illness. Our fear of death and the loss of a loved one are two of the most monumental emotional challenges of human existence and suffering. This is incorporated into a philosophy of care that has resulted in the principles of palliative care. This anxiety is usually suppressed and is only exposed when the reality of a possible death is confronted. Fear of death stems from different sources, for example, the thought of our non-existence and the fear of the unknown of what lies beyond death. By understanding how societies deal with death, it is possible to explore the more specific issues of how patients cope, the problems that can arise and how carers should respond. This includes care of both the patient and those important to them (significant others). Bereavement support of some kind has become a fundamental aspect of palliative care, although there is a view that it continues to be a marginalized service, with reports of inequitable distribution of services. This paper will review how to improve the understanding of the processes involved during dying and bereavement, the damaging consequences that can occur and the role of health professionals in caring for the dying and the bereaved.