As an end-of-life expert, Dr. Shoshana Underleider knows the importance of having a difficult conversation about death, and there’s one in particular she wants people to have before it’s too late.
Shoshana regularly advises people who have loved ones who are terminally ill to talk about what they want the end of their life to be like and where they want their final moments to be, especially if they want palliative care.
It revealed that while 80 per cent of people want to die at home, only 30 per cent actually achieve it, highlighting why it is essential to have difficult conversations.
The doctor recently spoke to DailyMail.com about the stigma that exists in society around death and dying, which often leads to aggressive and invasive treatments that can prolong life without really improving quality.
«Specifically in the United States, patients can receive palliative care for months. “It is available to anyone with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less,” Shoshana told DailyMail.com.
Dr Shoshana Ungerleider revealed that while 80 per cent of people want to die at home, only a small 30 per cent achieve this, highlighting why it is essential to talk to loved ones.
“If you get sick and need help, (if) you go to a hospital, you will receive very aggressive and invasive treatment, unless you opt out (or) have someone advocate on your behalf,” the expert said.
Shoshana shared the hesitation to refer people to palliative care early, making the transition to hospice more appropriate.
The medical professional, who advocates for palliative care training in medical education, noted that while it is fine for a ‘healthy young person’, it is not the same for older people.
“If you’re terminally ill (or) maybe you’re older and more frail, it’s very important for people to recognize that it’s about how you want to be cared for before you get sick,” he urged.
“It’s critically important, it’s almost impossible to make a thoughtful decision or have an in-depth conversation about what kind of care you want to receive in the midst of an acute crisis,” he said.
Shoshana added that many people don’t realize that palliative care is not actually a physical place but a type of support.
“It’s a philosophy of care provided wherever a patient lives, whether it’s at home, in a nursing facility, we can provide palliative care even in a hospital, although that’s not the norm,” he shared.
“Palliative care can be a treatment alongside chemotherapy or other types of curative intent to better support families… to reduce suffering and focus on people’s psychosocial, spiritual and physical needs,” he said.
Shoshana added that many people do not realize that palliative care is not actually a physical place but a type of support (file image)
He added that many do not know the difference between palliative care and palliative care, noting that palliative is a type of medical care for people with serious illnesses, while palliative care is a type of care for people who are nearing the end of their lives. lives.
She talked about her own experiences caring for her father, who had pancreatic cancer, and shared that it helps take care of the entire family.
“It provides emotional, psychological and even spiritual support,” he shared.
“So families can get counseling, even respite care, to give them some rest and room to breathe.”
Shoshana also pointed out that the responsibility of the patient falls mainly on friends who are not trained.
“I think this is one of the biggest problems with end-of-life care,” he admitted.
Shoshana talks about her own experiences caring for her father, who had pancreatic cancer, and shares that she helps care for the entire family.
“Most people are not trained or prepared for the type of care they will provide to their loved ones,” he said.
He urged anyone caring for their loved one to always trust the palliative care plan and try not to feel too guilty when their loved one passes away.
“That’s why I believe that by trusting and following the palliative care plan, you know that you are honoring your loved one’s dignity and making their transition as comfortable as possible,” she shared.
“I think to sum this up, shifting your focus from guilt to love and caring can be incredibly healing when you feel this guilt.
“It’s incredibly normal for anyone to have this experience,” he said. “But I would just say that I would like to give people permission to really let go of any guilt.”
Shoshana is so passionate about advocating for end-of-life care that she founded End Well: a nonprofit organization dedicated to the belief that all people should experience the end of life in a way that aligns with their values and goals. .