for families; many of the details for visitation and the funeral ceremony can be made ahead of time. This approach can also enable the individual to be involved in planning for the funeral and the disposition of his or her body. Writing a will provides a vehicle for a person to plan with certainty how his or her possessions will be dispersed.
The choice between dying in a palliative care unit or in a hospital and dying at home can be difficult for both patients and families. Both settings have benefits and drawbacks. In a unit there is 24-hour nurse support, while in the community the nurse may visit only once or twice a day; in a unit the patient is more separated from family and familiar environment, whereas at home he or she could be the center of the household; in a unit the family can visit and provide help in some ways, while at home the family carries the major burden of caregiving.
Before making a choice about which approach to take, the patient and family should talk over the details and explore the benefits and drawbacks with the nurse or doctor. In some instances arrangements can be made to take advantage of both settings at different stages of the illness.
