HDFS 225 Lecture Notes - Lecture 28: Palliative Care, Thanatology

• School: MSU
• Department: Human Develop & Family Studies
• Course: HDFS 225
• Professor: Laurie Bulock

Document Summary

Thanatology: the study of death and dying. Helps us understand these aspects of death, and how we can better accept and prepare for death & care for loved ones who are dying. Allowing the patient to die in peace and dignity. A widely observed decline in cognitive abilities shortly before death. Declines in verbal ability, spatial reasoning, & everyday cognition. Steep decline in life satisfaction with a year before death. Denial: this can"t be happening to me! Some people may not get to acceptance. The emotional response experienced in the early phase of bereavement. The process of adjusting to the loss of someone close. Can affect all aspects of a person"s life (e. g. , change in roles, change in ses) Includes three stages of letting go of the bond with the deceased person. Shock and disbelief - feel lost & confused, perhaps numbness, as the loss sinks in > overwhelming sadness.