Therapeutic support in the final stage of life: Quality of life/quantity of life—A case report

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundTo describe the challenges as speech therapists of accompanying a person with Alzheimer's disease, especially when they are close to death, it is important to talk about quality of life and decision making. As therapists and people, it is important to question what our role is at this stage. What are the considerations we should have? What is the limit between quantity and quality of life? The use of gastrostomy in advanced stages deserves analysis and discussion.Methodqualitative, case report, descriptive, participant observation.Result72‐year‐old CS patient with Alzheimer's disease 12 years ago, accompanied by a speech therapist 5 years ago. Constant work is done to educate the family about communication and food, with critical issues such as changing the way of feeding (oral or gastrostomy) and maintaining tasting for pleasure. They face complex realities at the medical, ethical and emotional levels.Conclusionit is difficult to face death, and to know what is the limit of our role as therapist?, the decision? When do we limit the freedom to decide to die? Issues such as the information that affected people and families handle about their health situation, obstinacy or therapeutic cruelty become relevant when talking about autonomy, the possibility of deciding will always be mediated by the information handled by the person and the true freedom of decision. That is why we question our participation, respecting the freedoms and autonomies of all beyond our professional knowledge and scientific evidence that confronts us permanently with more ways to extend life.