Asistencia humanizada a personas con enfermedades crónicas en fase final de vida

Abstract

The end-stage of a chronic disease represents the accumulation of events preceding death, characterized by the complete exhaustion of physiological reserves, progressing irreversibly towards the end of vital functions. Special attention to those at this stage is essential, based on their needs and avoiding their suffering. In this sense, humanized care focuses on optimizing the quality of life, promoting autonomy, and facilitating emotional adaptation to death, thus providing a multidimensional approach that addresses the management of physical, emotional, spiritual, and social symptoms. Therefore, this review aims to present updated literature on the benefits of humanized care for individuals with chronic diseases at the end of life. Information was collected from PubMed, ScienceDirect, and SciELO databases, among other sources and leading journals in palliative care. Literature published between 2016 and 2023 in Spanish and English was selected, extracting relevant and current information. This process made it possible to comprehensively address the issues covered in this review. In conclusion, implementing humanized end-of-life care offers a comprehensive approach, addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. It brings benefits in symptom relief and provides a more dignified experience, improving the quality of life and, indeed, the quality of death.