Ageing

5. End of life

5.5. Assessment of total needs (4a-d)

_{Photo: Britt-Evy Westergård}

Emotional, social and spirituals needs of people with ID may be overlooked for a variety of reasons, including unconventional ways of expressing such needs, assumptions made that such needs are less relevant than they are for the general population, and assumptions made about the (lack of) emotional capacities of people with ID. 

Life experiences of people with ID, including possible experiences of isolation, loss and societal rejection, may have a significant impact on their experience of the last phase of life. 

People with ID often have a lifelong experience of not being included and not being involved in decision-making, sometimes lacking the experience of making even the most basic of choices. Many have experience of not having their needs understood or addressed. This affects their experience at the end of life.

There is evidence that spirituality plays a significant role in the lives of people with ID and, therefore, they may need to be facilitated in expressing their spiritual needs at the end of life, like anyone else (1: 45-46).

ACTIVITIES:

• Try to find out what physical, emotional, social, spiritually needs your child/sibling/client may have in an end-of-life process. Do you think it is possible to meet these needs?
• Think about yourself, what would be the most important for you, if you were in an end-of-life process.... then, ask yourself... are they the same wishes your child/sibling/client may have? 
• Why do you think we compare ourselves to others, and what can you do to assess others’ life wishes in an end-of-life process?