In hospital

Even when death is expected, more people approaching the end of life die in hospital than anywhere else. While some people and their families feel more secure being near health professionals, others feel anxious about hospital care, believing it will be too impersonal.

Learn more about:

• Overview
• Ensuring your wishes are respected
• Key points about a hospital

Overview

If you have spent a lot of time in hospital during your illness, you may want to stay on the same ward where you are familiar with staff and surroundings. You’ll need to check if this is possible – sometimes people are moved to a different ward as their medical needs change.

To help create a more homely environment, ask if you can bring in familiar items from home, such as a favourite blanket or photos.

Ensuring your wishes are respected

Hospitals sometimes provide medical interventions, such as resuscitation and intravenous drips, that may not be what you want in the final weeks or days of life.

Talk to your team to make sure your care plan matches your preferences. Let the hospital staff know what interventions you are comfortable receiving and what you’re not happy to have happen.

End-of-life care in a hospital can be managed with communication and advance care planning. You can arrange to have your preferences and wishes recorded in an Advance Care Directive before an emergency occurs. It is a good idea to also keep a copy at home so your family, friends and carers know your wishes too.

Dying in hospital may mean you are able to donate your organs or tissues. Talk to your family in advance about whether you would like this to happen as the hospital will still need their consent. Visit donatelife.gov.au for more information.

Key points about a hospital

• Experienced medical and nursing staff are available at short notice to manage your physical symptoms (e.g. pain, breathlessness, fatigue, delirium) and your emotional needs (e.g. anxiety, agitation).
• You must be in a hospital to donate your organs. For details, see Donating organs or visit donatelife.gov.au.
• Care is provided 24-hours a day.
• Carers can come and go to get some rest. But some carers may find leaving you to go home difficult.
• Some facilities allow a carer to remain overnight with the dying person. Ask a staff member if this is possible.
• Some families prefer not to live in a house where someone has died, although others find this a comfort.

→ READ MORE: In a residential aged care facilities

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