Palliative care for older people - World Health Organization ...

AbstractPopulations around the world are ageing, and more people are living with the effects of serious chronic illness towards the end of life.Meeting their needs presents a public health challenge. This publication aims to provide examples of better palliative care practicesfor older people to help those involved in planning and supporting care-oriented services most appropriately and effectively. Exampleshave been identified from literature searches and from an international call for examples through various organizations, including theEuropean Association of Palliative Care and the European Union Geriatric Medicine Society. Some examples consider how to improveaspects within the whole health system; specific smaller examples consider how to improve palliative care education, support in thecommunity, in hospitals or for specific groups of people, such as people in nursing homes and people with dementia and their families.Some examples await rigorous evaluation of effectiveness, and more research is needed in this field, especially the cost–effectivenessand generalizability of these initiatives. This publication takes both an individual person and a health systems approach, focusing onexamples from or relevant to the WHO European Region. The publication is intended for policy-makers, decision-makers, planners andmultidisciplinary professionals concerned with the care and quality of life of older people.KeywordsPalliative careAgedHealth services for the agedQuality of health careHospice careTerminal careEuropeISBN 978 92 890 0224 0Address requests about publications of the WHO Regional Office for Europe to:PublicationsWHO Regional Office for EuropeScherfigsvej 8DK-2100 Copenhagen ØDenmarkAlternatively, complete an online request form for documentation, health information, or for permission to quote or translate, on theRegional Office web site (http://www.euro.who.int/pubrequest).© World Health Organization 2011All rights reserved. The Regional Office for Europe of the World Health Organization welcomes requests for permission to reproduce or translate its publications, in part or in full.The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World HealthOrganization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on mapsrepresent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement.The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference toothers of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters.All reasonable precautions have been taken by the World Health Organization to verify the information contained in this publication. However, the published material is beingdistributed without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall the WorldHealth Organization be liable for damages arising from its use. The views expressed by authors, editors, or expert groups do not necessarily represent the decisions or the statedpolicy of the World Health Organization.Front cover: Lunch walk on November 13, 2006 © by Joan Teno, Professor, Brown University, Providence RI, USA.Text editing: David BreuerGraphic design by Pagina 3 International (Rome)