Making decisions

A palliative and hospice care team can help you establish treatment goals and guide you through important decisions. This decision-making is intended to honor the wishes of the person who is dying, optimize his or her quality of life and support the family. Issues may include:

• When and if to discontinue disease treatment
• When to remove life-support machines, such as ventilators and dialysis machines
• Where to receive hospice care
• What support the family needs to provide care for the dying person
• How best to enable the dying person to spend quality time with family and friends
• What emotional and spiritual support is wanted by the person who is dying, family members and friends

Studies demonstrate that this person-centered approach improves care and the quality of people's lives in their last days.