What does end-of-life care involve?

End-of-life care involves comprehensive support and care provided during a patient's final phase of life. This aspect emphasizes the importance of addressing not only the physical needs of the patient, such as pain management and comfort, but also their emotional, spiritual, and social needs. End-of-life care is aimed at improving the quality of life for both the patient and their family, often incorporating palliative care principles that focus on providing relief from distressing symptoms and enhancing comfort.

This approach is inclusive of various settings, as it can occur in hospitals, hospice, or home environments, depending on the individual circumstances and patient preferences. It involves a multidisciplinary team to meet the diverse needs of patients, which goes beyond merely administering medications or performing medical procedures. In contrast, the other options are either too narrow or misrepresent the holistic nature of end-of-life care.