Cover; Author Biography; Imprint Page; Title Page; Contents; Dedication; Dying well; How it all began; How to use this book; Chapter 1: Are you living the last 12 months of your life?; Understanding bad news; Believing bad news; Techniques to help you believe bad news; Telling others and managing reactions; Tips for telling others; Doing research; The Google queen; Understanding the language; Understanding 'diagnosis'; Understanding 'prognosis'; Experience versus statistics; Chapter 2: Getting the support you need; Palliative care; Accessing palliative care services
Early access to palliative care extends quality of life and living timeDeveloping support teams; Formal support systems; Informal support systems; The internet; Where are you going to die?; Dying at home; Dying in a hospice; Dying in hospital; Dying in residential aged care facilities; Working out your preferred option; Chapter 3: Developing a plan for a good death; Your death plan or wish list; Defining quality of life; Understanding 'dignity'; Respecting autonomy; Autonomy at end of life; Understanding futile treatment; Consent to treatment; Cultural requirements; Developing your plan
Steps to developing your end-of-life planGetting the help you need; Shifting the goalposts; Being flexible; Chapter 4: The legalities; What decisions can I make in advance?; Who do I tell about my documents?; Financial issues; Euthanasia; Chapter 5: Dying 101; Reviewing your goals and plan; Body changes that precede death; How long does it take to die?; Comfort measures; Administration of medications; The management of pain; Staying with the body; Chapter 6: Troubleshooting; The care standards you should expect; Healthcare facility standards; Respectful communication
Dealing with care issues at the ward or unit level in a healthcare facilityHaving difficult conversations; Dying at home; What you can expect from the home visiting service; Getting organised with equipment; Using emergency departments; Escalating concerns; Changing teams or doctors; Working with healthcare staff to get the best care; Chapter 7: Reflections on grief; A confession; Grief and loss; Taking care of yourself; Getting out and about; Building a memorial; Final thoughts; Is a good death possible?; Appendix 1: Nursing hierarchies; Appendix 2: Useful websites and phone numbers
