Question

Steady Decline On the 12th of September Yetta walked 12 kilometres-not bad for an 82-year-old. But 10 weeks later she felt unwell and visited the doctor. "Fatique" she said. Oh, and my right side is sore" And you are jaundiced--the whites of your eyes are a bit yellow," the doctor said. On the 8th of November she was told that the ultrasound showed a tumour and the next morning a stent was inserted to help the bile flow from her gall bladder. By the afternoon, after a CT scan, the surgeon sat at the end of her bed and very gently and kindly told her, "You have an inoperable tumour." "How long?" she asked. "Mm... maybe 6 to 12 months... I hope you will have a good winter." She was glad that she was not offered any surgery to remove the tumour. She said, have to die anyway, so whether I die in six months or in nine months does not really matter." She got busy, as busy as her energy would allow her. She organized papers and cleaned her desk. She wrote a letter about democratic process to a community group, and resigned as the treasurer. She asked her sister to complete a sweater that she was knitting. She connected with a few old friends she was concerned about. And she connected with her closest friends. Within six weeks we her four kids, gathered from around the globe and celebrated Christmas. She talked about the light in a season of darkness. She ate whipping cream. She decided life was too short for cheap wine and decided to eat and drink only what she loved, nibbling small bits of anything she felt like eating and nothing else "What do you want? What is important to you in dying? How can we help you?" asked. She was very clear, "I do not want any pain." Another few weeks passed. She slept more and got up less. She became unstable on her feet. She said, "I know my date Next week. Between the 14th and 17th of Janu- ary"She came close to death a number of times, but then she perked up and started breathing regularly again. Repeatedly she described her last months as 'the richest period of my life." And then, on the 16th of January in the quiet of the night, she took her last breaths and was gone

Answer 1

14.Yetta decided to eat and drink whatever she likes and nibble anything in smaller bits of her like avoid what she does not.

As a PSW some of the ways to improve her appetite are

• Provide preferred drinks and foods prepared in home at frequent intervals
• Supplements can be used to prevent malnutrition
• Do not force to feed rather encourage the patient to eat along with family members
• Smaller quantity of feeds at regular interval is the best way to eat at this period
• Constipation can occur to immobilization and decrease appetite so treat it as per order