Let's Talk About Death, Baby

Abstract

Overall AbstractAs geriatric mental health professionals we are, by definition, working with patients who are approaching the end of their lives. Our patients have a variety of responses to this fact. Some may choose to avoid thinking about their own mortality, even to the point of denying medical realities. Others may confront their mortality more directly and face a range of emotions from fear to anger to peace. Whatever the case, patients often turn to us for guidance, comfort or understanding. How we ourselves think and feel about death will shape how we speak to our patients and what we are able to offer them. This workshop will explore various aspects of death and dying that are relevant to geriatric mental health care. First, we will discuss how the way different cultures and religions view death influences patients’ experience and needs at the end of life. Next, we will talk about what constitutes a high-quality goals of care conversation, and how such conversations help patients to choose care at the end of life that is in line with their values. We will review data about the role of goals of care conversations on hospice utilization in a home-based veteran population. Finally, we will discuss how trainee comfort with aging and death may influence the choice to go into geriatrics and consider ways to address these issues.