Death trajectory: Difference between revisions
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==Premature Death Trajectory== |
==Premature Death Trajectory== |
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[[File:Sudden_Death_graph.png|thumb|right |
[[File:Sudden_Death_graph.png|thumb|right]]With a death such as sudden death, it is unbeknown to both the victim and the family, and is considered a difficult fall. Typically deaths such as these are fatal car accidents, myocardial infarctions, as well as a severe stroke. The death trajectory can be within hours to a few days at most, which does not give loved ones much time to say goodbyes, if at all.<ref name=five>{{cite web|last1=Quan|first1=Kathy|title=Dying Trajectories|url=http://www.netplaces.com/caring-for-aging-parents/death-dying-and-grief/dying-trajectories.htm|website=netplaces.com|accessdate=20 November 2014}}</ref> |
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==Chronic Malady Trajectory== |
==Chronic Malady Trajectory== |
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==Natural Death== |
==Natural Death== |
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[[File:Steady_decline.png|thumb|left]]This is typically a long steady decline in regard to old age, death trajectory here is based more on how the mindset, is there fight left or not, also how badly are organs failing and how quickly. Most times goodbyes are well though out and most family’s are well within knowledge that it is inevitable they will sooner rather than later lose the family member.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Gerstorf|first1=Denis|last2=Ram|first2=Nilam|last3=Lindenberger|first3=Ulman|last4=Smith|first4=Jacqui|title=Age and time-to-death trajectories of change in indicators of cognitive, sensory, physical, health, social, and self-related functions.|journal=Developmental Psychology|date=2013|volume=49|issue=10|pages=1805–1821|doi=10.1037/a0031340}}</ref> <ref name=five></ref> |
[[File:Steady_decline.png|thumb|left|Natural Death]]This is typically a long steady decline in regard to old age, death trajectory here is based more on how the mindset, is there fight left or not, also how badly are organs failing and how quickly. Most times goodbyes are well though out and most family’s are well within knowledge that it is inevitable they will sooner rather than later lose the family member.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Gerstorf|first1=Denis|last2=Ram|first2=Nilam|last3=Lindenberger|first3=Ulman|last4=Smith|first4=Jacqui|title=Age and time-to-death trajectories of change in indicators of cognitive, sensory, physical, health, social, and self-related functions.|journal=Developmental Psychology|date=2013|volume=49|issue=10|pages=1805–1821|doi=10.1037/a0031340}}</ref> <ref name=five></ref> |
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When an individual had been given a death date and have a death trajectory, at this point they will drop curative care, and proceed onto comfort care<ref name=one></ref>. Curative care is when the patient still feels fight for their life and will continue to use current medical care in hopes of recovering or becoming stable enough to carry on with life. Comfort care in a sense is when a patient has accepted the reality that death is unavoidable, and will need to take the next steps in order to make the death as painless, and comfortable as possible. |
When an individual had been given a death date and have a death trajectory, at this point they will drop curative care, and proceed onto comfort care<ref name=one></ref>. Curative care is when the patient still feels fight for their life and will continue to use current medical care in hopes of recovering or becoming stable enough to carry on with life. Comfort care in a sense is when a patient has accepted the reality that death is unavoidable, and will need to take the next steps in order to make the death as painless, and comfortable as possible. |
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Revision as of 04:28, 20 November 2014
Death Trajectory is known as the pattern of dying when one is given a projected death date, and there is no other means other than comfort care for the remaining existence of the individuals life[1], “the time between the onset of dying and the arrival of the death”. Death trajectory is not biased when it comes down to the nature that is the trajectory, whether it be a sudden death, death by cancer, chronic illness, or the long steady decline resulting in the loss of a loved grandparent[2]. Dying trajectories were first studied in the 1960’s by two researchers, Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss, in order to understand how humans decline with different ailments.[3] Death trajectory can have many faces, however depending on how the individual is dying will depend on the trajectory.
Premature Death Trajectory
With a death such as sudden death, it is unbeknown to both the victim and the family, and is considered a difficult fall. Typically deaths such as these are fatal car accidents, myocardial infarctions, as well as a severe stroke. The death trajectory can be within hours to a few days at most, which does not give loved ones much time to say goodbyes, if at all.[4]
Chronic Malady Trajectory
Chronic Malady is another type of downfall that can take a loved ones life. Many times this death is along the lines of an autoimmune disease, HIV, or other illness that humanity still has yet to conquer. The death trajectory here can have a patient going through highs and lows[1], eventually the patient may tire mentally and no longer fight the battle. The trajectory here is more known to the family, as well as the patient, therefore making goodbyes and future plans more possible[4].
Cancer Trajectory
Cancerous deaths are both the most easy to prepare for as well as the hardest to deal with in that in most cases where cancer is the diagnosis and there is no hope for a curative approach, and death is imminent. Much like a chronic malady, there is time to prepare for future plans, memories, and goodbyes[4].
Natural Death
This is typically a long steady decline in regard to old age, death trajectory here is based more on how the mindset, is there fight left or not, also how badly are organs failing and how quickly. Most times goodbyes are well though out and most family’s are well within knowledge that it is inevitable they will sooner rather than later lose the family member.[5] [4]
When an individual had been given a death date and have a death trajectory, at this point they will drop curative care, and proceed onto comfort care[1]. Curative care is when the patient still feels fight for their life and will continue to use current medical care in hopes of recovering or becoming stable enough to carry on with life. Comfort care in a sense is when a patient has accepted the reality that death is unavoidable, and will need to take the next steps in order to make the death as painless, and comfortable as possible.
More then often patients whom have been given a death date and have a death trajectory will been emitted into hospice, and will die in the care of these programs and expertise. There is often bereavement offered to the families, most often for up to 13 months [6]. Many times just having the strength to talk about the death can benefit both the dying, and the family and friends[1].
Death trajectory was first studied with cancerous patients, in that knowing that death was coming and that it has close to a specific date[4]. However, death trajectory is still being studied to this day, and can sometimes still be misunderstood due to ‘medical miracles’ [6]. All in all having a framework to this study is helpful to family, friends, and patients that need to understand what their futures hold for them, and exactly how much time they have to come to terms with the death whether it be themselves or another loved one.
References
- ^ a b c d Corr & Corr (2012). Death & Dying, Life & Living, Seventh Edition. Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-1111840617.
- ^ "Preparing to say Good-Bye" (PDF). University of Hawaii. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
- ^ "Trajectory of Dying". http://depts.washington.edu/fammed/. University of Washington. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ^ a b c d e Quan, Kathy. "Dying Trajectories". netplaces.com. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
- ^ Gerstorf, Denis; Ram, Nilam; Lindenberger, Ulman; Smith, Jacqui (2013). "Age and time-to-death trajectories of change in indicators of cognitive, sensory, physical, health, social, and self-related functions". Developmental Psychology. 49 (10): 1805–1821. doi:10.1037/a0031340.
- ^ a b Penrod, J.; Hupcey, J. E.; Baney, B. L.; Loeb, S. J. (27 September 2010). "End-of-Life Caregiving Trajectories". Clinical Nursing Research. 20 (1): 7–24. doi:10.1177/1054773810384852.