Ageing

5. End of life

Island

Photo: Britt-Evy Westergård



In this chapter, you will learn more about the importance of end of life and grief in older adults with ID. The purpose of this chapter is helping you to talk about life-ending issues with your child, sibling or client, in an open and trustful way.

Most text in this chapter is based on the Consensus Norms for Palliative Care of People with ID in Europe (1, 2) and contains the following topics:

  • Definition and European Consensus norms 
  • 13 norms to secure good care at the end of life
  • Access to palliative care
  • Communication
  • Assessments of total needs
  • End of life decision-making
  • Preparing for death
  • Grief
  • Bereavement support