Providing Comfort During the Last Days of Life with Barbara Karnes RN

Learn useful tips for helping patients and loved ones be more comfortable at the very end of life – small changes can make a big difference.

This episode includes:

• Why grooming and hygiene matter for patients all the way through the end of life
• Tips for good mouth and lip care
• Preserving patient dignity by honoring their routines
• Preventing skin breakdown
• Importance of positioning and turning patients for maximum comfort
• Dealing with breathing issues and “death rattle”
• An alternative to adult diapers
• Options for administering medications sublingually, rectally or as a skin cream

Links mentioned in this episode:

Check out previous interviews with Barbara Karnes RN

• Suggested resources: 
• The End of Life Guideline Series
• BY YOUR SIDE, A Guide for Caring for the Dying at Home
• New Rules For End of Life Care, DVD Kit