The Last Phase of Life, Life Completion, Palliative Care Model

Kim, Dal Sook

Abstract

Despite a recent increased nation's attention given to improving end-life care, we professionals need to be more critical and reflective on our realities surrounding hospice palliative care. The aim of this paper is to suggest that palliative care models can be used for patients/families in the last phase of life and examine whether they are appropriate for caring them in congruence with philosophy of hospice. The hospice experience model (HEM) of Eagan & Labyak and the developmental model of Byock are introduced and examined for their congruence with philosophy of hospice in applying to clinical practice. The HEM as a patient/family value-directed end of life care model emphasizes three principles; unique experience of patient/family, interactions/relationships among multiple dimensions of personhood and between family, and personal growth and development in the face of suffering through a life-completion. The developmental model stipulates dying as the last stage of living, a stage of life cycle in which patients/family may have growth through life-completion in multidimensional relationships of personhood. The model includes the developmental landmarks and tasks for life-completion as the framework to guide a means of professionals' to recognize their opportunity to grow. The landmarks and tasks include worldly and social affair, individual relationships, intrapersonal, and transcendent dimension. The models could work as appropriate palliative care models for patients/families in the last stage of living. The professionals need to be encouraged to apply the models to end of life care setting.