Promoting health and well-being at the end of life through client-centered care

Abstract

Background: Client-centered care is the cornerstone of the hospice and includes family members and significant others as the client unit. There needs to be a conceptual shift away from “medicalizing” patients at the end of life to promoting their health and considering their well-being a shared responsibility. Using the hospice philosophy of client-centered care can inform and expand health-promotion occupational therapy practice, particularly for people at the end of life. Objectives. This paper examines client-centered care at the end of life as that which enables engagement in meaningful occupation and promotes health and well-being until one dies. Methods: Constant comparison and thematic analysis is used for 12 interviews of hospice professionals. One of the themes, client-centered care, is discussed relative to the promotion of health and well-being at the end of life. Results: Client-centered care is deemed to be an important approach at the end of life. Conclusions/significance: It is determined that client-centered care at the end of life is vital to promote quality of life, health, and well-being. Further research is indicated.

Key words:

• End-of-life care
• health promotion
• hospice
• occupational therapy practice
• palliative care
• quality of life
• wellness

Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges Kenneth L. Brickman and Denise Lim for help in reviewing the manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.