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How timely talking about dying allows shaping the end of life | Daisy Janssen | TEDxSittardGeleen


this lady is my grandmother she dies in

this lady is my grandmother she dies in July last year she was 95 years old and

July last year she was 95 years old and

July last year she was 95 years old and she suffered from severe heart failure

she suffered from severe heart failure

she suffered from severe heart failure for a long period of time she died in

for a long period of time she died in

for a long period of time she died in her own house surrounded by her loved

her own house surrounded by her loved

her own house surrounded by her loved ones she died in her own house not only

ones she died in her own house not only

ones she died in her own house not only because she wanted to but because she

because she wanted to but because she

because she wanted to but because she shared her wishes with her closest loved

shared her wishes with her closest loved

shared her wishes with her closest loved ones and with her doctor who of you has

ones and with her doctor who of you has

ones and with her doctor who of you has ever discussed your end-of-life wishes

ever discussed your end-of-life wishes

ever discussed your end-of-life wishes with your loved ones what’s the most

with your loved ones what’s the most

with your loved ones what’s the most important in your life quality of life

important in your life quality of life

important in your life quality of life or how long you have to live there may

or how long you have to live there may

or how long you have to live there may be circumstances in which you believe

be circumstances in which you believe

be circumstances in which you believe that life isn’t worth living anymore

that life isn’t worth living anymore

that life isn’t worth living anymore many of you might think I don’t have to

many of you might think I don’t have to

many of you might think I don’t have to think about the end of life I’m not 95

think about the end of life I’m not 95

think about the end of life I’m not 95 years old when I look around I believe

years old when I look around I believe

years old when I look around I believe that’s true but I’m going to show you

that’s true but I’m going to show you

that’s true but I’m going to show you today why it is important for you and

today why it is important for you and

today why it is important for you and your loved ones to discuss your

your loved ones to discuss your

your loved ones to discuss your end-of-life wishes in fact some of us

end-of-life wishes in fact some of us

end-of-life wishes in fact some of us will be elderly some of us will have a

will be elderly some of us will have a

will be elderly some of us will have a life-limiting illness but many of us

life-limiting illness but many of us

life-limiting illness but many of us will get a life-limiting illness

will get a life-limiting illness

will get a life-limiting illness somewhere in our lives maybe you have

somewhere in our lives maybe you have

somewhere in our lives maybe you have parents or grandparents or loved one

parents or grandparents or loved one

parents or grandparents or loved one with a life-limiting illness do you know

with a life-limiting illness do you know

with a life-limiting illness do you know their end-of-life preferences for

their end-of-life preferences for

their end-of-life preferences for example would they prefer treatment

example would they prefer treatment

example would they prefer treatment focusing on prolonging life when they

focusing on prolonging life when they

focusing on prolonging life when they had a stroke and if they are no longer

had a stroke and if they are no longer

had a stroke and if they are no longer able to communicate with you I would

able to communicate with you I would

able to communicate with you I would they prefer comfort care in such a

they prefer comfort care in such a

they prefer comfort care in such a situation we are all going to the

situation we are all going to the

situation we are all going to the you me and our loved ones nobody can

you me and our loved ones nobody can

you me and our loved ones nobody can tell us when that will be it can be when

tell us when that will be it can be when

tell us when that will be it can be when we are 95 years old just like my

we are 95 years old just like my

we are 95 years old just like my grandmother can also be tomorrow a

grandmother can also be tomorrow a

grandmother can also be tomorrow a century ago most deaths occur and

century ago most deaths occur and

century ago most deaths occur and suddenly due to accidents infections

suddenly due to accidents infections

suddenly due to accidents infections around childbirth people didn’t have

around childbirth people didn’t have

around childbirth people didn’t have time to think about such a thing as

time to think about such a thing as

time to think about such a thing as end-of-life care but nowadays

end-of-life care but nowadays

end-of-life care but nowadays demographic transitions like aging of

demographic transitions like aging of

demographic transitions like aging of the population and a shift in causes of

the population and a shift in causes of

the population and a shift in causes of death towards chronic diseases because

death towards chronic diseases because

death towards chronic diseases because the major exchange in the experience of

the major exchange in the experience of

the major exchange in the experience of dying and the experience of dying

dying and the experience of dying

dying and the experience of dying becomes increasingly a feature of old

becomes increasingly a feature of old

becomes increasingly a feature of old age because of the developments in

age because of the developments in

age because of the developments in modern medicine people often survive

modern medicine people often survive

modern medicine people often survive acute illnesses but they may live for

acute illnesses but they may live for

acute illnesses but they may live for many years with progressive chronic

many years with progressive chronic

many years with progressive chronic diseases they may have severe

diseases they may have severe

diseases they may have severe limitations in performing their daily

limitations in performing their daily

limitations in performing their daily life activities impaired quality of life

life activities impaired quality of life

life activities impaired quality of life and maybe they are going in and out of

and maybe they are going in and out of

and maybe they are going in and out of the hospital because of acute episodes

the hospital because of acute episodes

the hospital because of acute episodes of the chronic disease or maybe they are

of the chronic disease or maybe they are

of the chronic disease or maybe they are living in a nursing home because of a

living in a nursing home because of a

living in a nursing home because of a high level of care dependency a medical

high level of care dependency a medical

high level of care dependency a medical care is still mainly focusing on

care is still mainly focusing on

care is still mainly focusing on prolonging life and the likelihood that

prolonging life and the likelihood that

prolonging life and the likelihood that a patient will die because of his or her

a patient will die because of his or her

a patient will die because of his or her disease is often ignored and dying is

disease is often ignored and dying is

disease is often ignored and dying is often seen as a failure of medicine and

often seen as a failure of medicine and

often seen as a failure of medicine and I will never forget a family meeting

I will never forget a family meeting

I will never forget a family meeting which I had when I was a 24 year old

which I had when I was a 24 year old

which I had when I was a 24 year old doctor in the nursing home one of my

doctor in the nursing home one of my

doctor in the nursing home one of my patients a very old lady with dementia

patients a very old lady with dementia

patients a very old lady with dementia was deteriorating fast and actually I

was deteriorating fast and actually I

was deteriorating fast and actually I had no idea what was wrong with her I

had no idea what was wrong with her I

had no idea what was wrong with her I spoke to the family and I told him a

spoke to the family and I told him a

spoke to the family and I told him a list of possible diagnoses which he

list of possible diagnoses which he

list of possible diagnoses which he might have which could explain why she

might have which could explain why she

might have which could explain why she was deteriorating the family was

was deteriorating the family was

was deteriorating the family was listening to me very patient and at the

listening to me very patient and at the

listening to me very patient and at the end of my extensive list they quietly

end of my extensive list they quietly

end of my extensive list they quietly said to me doctor she’s just worn out

said to me doctor she’s just worn out

said to me doctor she’s just worn out this family was ready for her dying I

this family was ready for her dying I

this family was ready for her dying I ambitious doctor I wasn’t and I will

ambitious doctor I wasn’t and I will

ambitious doctor I wasn’t and I will always remain grateful for what this

always remain grateful for what this

always remain grateful for what this family taught me autonomy becomes

family taught me autonomy becomes

family taught me autonomy becomes increasingly important in our society

increasingly important in our society

increasingly important in our society and the expectations about the end of

and the expectations about the end of

and the expectations about the end of life change we want to influence

life change we want to influence

life change we want to influence everything in our lives but we also want

everything in our lives but we also want

everything in our lives but we also want to influence the end of life but to be

to influence the end of life but to be

to influence the end of life but to be able to do this timely discussions with

able to do this timely discussions with

able to do this timely discussions with our loved ones and our doctors about

our loved ones and our doctors about

our loved ones and our doctors about what’s important in our lives and about

what’s important in our lives and about

what’s important in our lives and about our treatment references are important

our treatment references are important

our treatment references are important and these discussions are named advanced

and these discussions are named advanced

and these discussions are named advanced care planning discussions advanced care

care planning discussions advanced care

care planning discussions advanced care planning improve scare at the end of

planning improve scare at the end of

planning improve scare at the end of life for patients and their loved ones

life for patients and their loved ones

life for patients and their loved ones and we know now that people who had Lee

and we know now that people who had Lee

and we know now that people who had Lee discuss these discussions are more

discuss these discussions are more

discuss these discussions are more likely to receive care according to

likely to receive care according to

likely to receive care according to their preferences as an elderly care

their preferences as an elderly care

their preferences as an elderly care physician and of life discussions are

physician and of life discussions are

physician and of life discussions are now part of my daily work however these

now part of my daily work however these

now part of my daily work however these conversations never become easy and even

conversations never become easy and even

conversations never become easy and even for elderly patients with advanced

for elderly patients with advanced

for elderly patients with advanced illnesses focus facing the end of life

illnesses focus facing the end of life

illnesses focus facing the end of life can be very challenging and a while ago

can be very challenging and a while ago

can be very challenging and a while ago I was caring for an 82 year old

I was caring for an 82 year old

I was caring for an 82 year old gentleman with advanced lung disease and

gentleman with advanced lung disease and

gentleman with advanced lung disease and he was bound to a wheelchair it used the

he was bound to a wheelchair it used the

he was bound to a wheelchair it used the high doses of oxygen and he couldn’t

high doses of oxygen and he couldn’t

high doses of oxygen and he couldn’t perform any physical activity because of

perform any physical activity because of

perform any physical activity because of severe breathlessness he spoke to me

severe breathlessness he spoke to me

severe breathlessness he spoke to me about a recent experience in the

about a recent experience in the

about a recent experience in the hospital and that he felt that he was

hospital and that he felt that he was

hospital and that he felt that he was going to die we discussed his fear for

going to die we discussed his fear for

going to die we discussed his fear for suffocation and how palliative care can

suffocation and how palliative care can

suffocation and how palliative care can prevent suffering and the dying faced

prevent suffering and the dying faced

prevent suffering and the dying faced one day later his wife called me she was

one day later his wife called me she was

one day later his wife called me she was very upset actually she was very angry

very upset actually she was very angry

very upset actually she was very angry with me she was very angry that I spoke

with me she was very angry that I spoke

with me she was very angry that I spoke with her husband about dying I try to

with her husband about dying I try to

with her husband about dying I try to explain to her that I discussed this as

explain to her that I discussed this as

explain to her that I discussed this as part of a hope for the best but prepare

part of a hope for the best but prepare

part of a hope for the best but prepare for the worst approach but after this

for the worst approach but after this

for the worst approach but after this moment any conversation with the couple

moment any conversation with the couple

moment any conversation with the couple about the end of life became impossible

about the end of life became impossible

about the end of life became impossible a few weeks later he was discharged home

a few weeks later he was discharged home

a few weeks later he was discharged home and two months later we heard that he

and two months later we heard that he

and two months later we heard that he died in the hospital I don’t know

died in the hospital I don’t know

died in the hospital I don’t know whether he wanted to die in the hospital

whether he wanted to die in the hospital

whether he wanted to die in the hospital or whether he would have preferred to

or whether he would have preferred to

or whether he would have preferred to die at home I don’t know this because

die at home I don’t know this because

die at home I don’t know this because his end-of-life preferences will never

his end-of-life preferences will never

his end-of-life preferences will never discussed for other patients preparing

discussed for other patients preparing

discussed for other patients preparing for the end of life is very important

for the end of life is very important

for the end of life is very important and last summer as 60 year old gentleman

and last summer as 60 year old gentleman

and last summer as 60 year old gentleman was admitted to my unit he had severe

was admitted to my unit he had severe

was admitted to my unit he had severe lung disease for many years and he was

lung disease for many years and he was

lung disease for many years and he was not only using oxygen therapy but also

not only using oxygen therapy but also

not only using oxygen therapy but also non-invasive ventilation before he came

non-invasive ventilation before he came

non-invasive ventilation before he came to my unit he was living at home alone

to my unit he was living at home alone

to my unit he was living at home alone and every morning the home care nurse

and every morning the home care nurse

and every morning the home care nurse came and she helped him with washing

came and she helped him with washing

came and she helped him with washing dressing and P Bertha’s breakfast in the

dressing and P Bertha’s breakfast in the

dressing and P Bertha’s breakfast in the afternoon events with his scooter to see

afternoon events with his scooter to see

afternoon events with his scooter to see some friends and during a coffee every

some friends and during a coffee every

some friends and during a coffee every day the same this was the only thing he

day the same this was the only thing he

day the same this was the only thing he could do but he was satisfied with his

could do but he was satisfied with his

could do but he was satisfied with his life when he came to my units he was bad

life when he came to my units he was bad

life when he came to my units he was bad bound he needed help with performing all

bound he needed help with performing all

bound he needed help with performing all his daily life activities and he was

his daily life activities and he was

his daily life activities and he was uses using his non-invasive ventilation

uses using his non-invasive ventilation

uses using his non-invasive ventilation mouse for almost 24 hours a day he was

mouse for almost 24 hours a day he was

mouse for almost 24 hours a day he was very clear to me if he was not going to

very clear to me if he was not going to

very clear to me if he was not going to improve his level of functioning and if

improve his level of functioning and if

improve his level of functioning and if he couldn’t be discharged home again his

he couldn’t be discharged home again his

he couldn’t be discharged home again his life wasn’t worth living anymore we

life wasn’t worth living anymore we

life wasn’t worth living anymore we started with intensive therapy but

started with intensive therapy but

started with intensive therapy but despite this he did not improve and he

despite this he did not improve and he

despite this he did not improve and he would need his fancy latian mosque for

would need his fancy latian mosque for

would need his fancy latian mosque for 24 hours a day and he couldn’t be

24 hours a day and he couldn’t be

24 hours a day and he couldn’t be discharged home again we had open

discharged home again we had open

discharged home again we had open discussions about his life goals about

discussions about his life goals about

discussions about his life goals about his prognosis and about his treatment

his prognosis and about his treatment

his prognosis and about his treatment options and he decided to forego any

options and he decided to forego any

options and he decided to forego any life-prolonging treatment he knew that

life-prolonging treatment he knew that

life-prolonging treatment he knew that he was going to die and he prepared for

he was going to die and he prepared for

he was going to die and he prepared for it he finished everything he wanted to

it he finished everything he wanted to

it he finished everything he wanted to do he found closure and a few weeks

do he found closure and a few weeks

do he found closure and a few weeks later he died peacefully and the

later he died peacefully and the

later he died peacefully and the presence of his loved ones a few weeks

presence of his loved ones a few weeks

presence of his loved ones a few weeks later I spoke with his family and of

later I spoke with his family and of

later I spoke with his family and of course they were very sad but even more

course they were very sad but even more

course they were very sad but even more they were very grateful about valuable

they were very grateful about valuable

they were very grateful about valuable time they spent together

time they spent together

time they spent together in his final weeks of life these two

in his final weeks of life these two

in his final weeks of life these two patients clearly show us that people

patients clearly show us that people

patients clearly show us that people differ and how they want to feel face

differ and how they want to feel face

differ and how they want to feel face the future people differ in their needs

the future people differ in their needs

the future people differ in their needs and desires for hope and explicit

and desires for hope and explicit

and desires for hope and explicit prognostic information but to achieve a

prognostic information but to achieve a

prognostic information but to achieve a good death advanced care planning is

good death advanced care planning is

good death advanced care planning is necessary and in the past advanced care

necessary and in the past advanced care

necessary and in the past advanced care planning was mainly seen as preparing

planning was mainly seen as preparing

planning was mainly seen as preparing advanced directives documenting wishes

advanced directives documenting wishes

advanced directives documenting wishes concerning life-sustaining treatments

concerning life-sustaining treatments

concerning life-sustaining treatments one of these life-sustaining treatments

one of these life-sustaining treatments

one of these life-sustaining treatments is CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation

is CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation

is CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation when your house stops beating there’s no

when your house stops beating there’s no

when your house stops beating there’s no time of opportunity to discuss your

time of opportunity to discuss your

time of opportunity to discuss your preferences regarding CPR but chest

preferences regarding CPR but chest

preferences regarding CPR but chest compressions should be started as soon

compressions should be started as soon

compressions should be started as soon as possible or should not be started at

as possible or should not be started at

as possible or should not be started at all but why would anyone even consider

all but why would anyone even consider

all but why would anyone even consider to forego CPR CPR was quite successful

to forego CPR CPR was quite successful

to forego CPR CPR was quite successful isn’t it at least that’s what we see on

isn’t it at least that’s what we see on

isn’t it at least that’s what we see on television together with a colleague

television together with a colleague

television together with a colleague I’ve watched 68 episodes of ER house and

I’ve watched 68 episodes of ER house and

I’ve watched 68 episodes of ER house and grey’s anatomy and we saw 47 CPR

grey’s anatomy and we saw 47 CPR

grey’s anatomy and we saw 47 CPR attempts 51% were successful

attempts 51% were successful

attempts 51% were successful thirty-eight percent were not successful

thirty-eight percent were not successful

thirty-eight percent were not successful and it was not shown an 11 presents but

and it was not shown an 11 presents but

and it was not shown an 11 presents but these are real life data when you don’t

these are real life data when you don’t

these are real life data when you don’t have a chronic disease and you need CPR

have a chronic disease and you need CPR

have a chronic disease and you need CPR while you are in the hospital you have

while you are in the hospital you have

while you are in the hospital you have seventeen percent chance that you will

seventeen percent chance that you will

seventeen percent chance that you will survive until discharge if you have a

survive until discharge if you have a

survive until discharge if you have a chronic lung disease of cancer your

chronic lung disease of cancer your

chronic lung disease of cancer your chances are even lower and moreover only

chances are even lower and moreover only

chances are even lower and moreover only five to seven percent will be discharged

five to seven percent will be discharged

five to seven percent will be discharged home and the other survivors will be

home and the other survivors will be

home and the other survivors will be discharged for example to a nursing home

discharged for example to a nursing home

discharged for example to a nursing home so documenting preferences regarding

so documenting preferences regarding

so documenting preferences regarding CPRS importance but we also know now the

CPRS importance but we also know now the

CPRS importance but we also know now the limitations of advanced directives

limitations of advanced directives

limitations of advanced directives life-sustaining treatments I’ll

life-sustaining treatments I’ll

life-sustaining treatments I’ll preferences are likely to change and

preferences are likely to change and

preferences are likely to change and moreover it is very difficult to make

moreover it is very difficult to make

moreover it is very difficult to make decisions in advance about future

decisions in advance about future

decisions in advance about future unknown scenarios and to illustrate this

unknown scenarios and to illustrate this

unknown scenarios and to illustrate this I

I

I want to use a quote of a loved one of a

want to use a quote of a loved one of a

want to use a quote of a loved one of a patient that I’ve written a paper from

patient that I’ve written a paper from

patient that I’ve written a paper from Quebec isidoro and this loved one said

Quebec isidoro and this loved one said

Quebec isidoro and this loved one said we got the DNR and writing but in making

we got the DNR and writing but in making

we got the DNR and writing but in making decisions which there were many this was

decisions which there were many this was

decisions which there were many this was just one and the first decision was

just one and the first decision was

just one and the first decision was whether to put him in a nursing home we

whether to put him in a nursing home we

whether to put him in a nursing home we were married for 30 years and I could no

were married for 30 years and I could no

were married for 30 years and I could no longer take care of him the second

longer take care of him the second

longer take care of him the second decision was whether to put him on a

decision was whether to put him on a

decision was whether to put him on a feeling cube because he had stopped

feeling cube because he had stopped

feeling cube because he had stopped eating and I wasn’t ready to let him go

so advanced care planning it’s not about

so advanced care planning it’s not about deciding everything in advance and

deciding everything in advance and

deciding everything in advance and signing lots of papers advanced care

signing lots of papers advanced care

signing lots of papers advanced care planning is about talking with your

planning is about talking with your

planning is about talking with your loved ones and your doctor’s about

loved ones and your doctor’s about

loved ones and your doctor’s about what’s important in your life and what

what’s important in your life and what

what’s important in your life and what quality of life means to you and this

quality of life means to you and this

quality of life means to you and this will help your doctors and your loved

will help your doctors and your loved

will help your doctors and your loved ones with making the best possible

ones with making the best possible

ones with making the best possible decisions for you when you are no longer

decisions for you when you are no longer

decisions for you when you are no longer able to participate in the

able to participate in the

able to participate in the decision-making process for example when

decision-making process for example when

decision-making process for example when you are lying in the ICU unconscious it

you are lying in the ICU unconscious it

you are lying in the ICU unconscious it will help them to offer you the

will help them to offer you the

will help them to offer you the treatments as you would have wanted

treatments as you would have wanted

treatments as you would have wanted taking and account your values and your

taking and account your values and your

taking and account your values and your life goals it allows you to lift the way

life goals it allows you to lift the way

life goals it allows you to lift the way you want but also to die the way you

you want but also to die the way you

you want but also to die the way you want it allows your family members to go

want it allows your family members to go

want it allows your family members to go on after your dad’s we know now that

on after your dad’s we know now that

on after your dad’s we know now that loved ones of patients who died who had

loved ones of patients who died who had

loved ones of patients who died who had advanced care planning discussions are

advanced care planning discussions are

advanced care planning discussions are less likely to suffer from anxiety and

less likely to suffer from anxiety and

less likely to suffer from anxiety and depression but to achieve this we have

depression but to achieve this we have

depression but to achieve this we have to talk about dying we have to be aware

to talk about dying we have to be aware

to talk about dying we have to be aware of the fact that we are all going to die

of the fact that we are all going to die

of the fact that we are all going to die we don’t know when but we can prepare we

we don’t know when but we can prepare we

we don’t know when but we can prepare we can overcome fears just by talking about

can overcome fears just by talking about

can overcome fears just by talking about it so when you go home today just think

it so when you go home today just think

it so when you go home today just think about it think about your end-of-life

about it think about your end-of-life

about it think about your end-of-life wishes discuss with your loved ones

wishes discuss with your loved ones

wishes discuss with your loved ones there and of life wishes be prepared

”

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