Wound Care at End of Life: A Guide for Hospice Professionals

Quality wound care in hospice is a challenge. As patients decline, advanced disease can compromise the body’s largest organ – the skin. Good wound care is essential to promoting comfort and dignity; yet with limited studies devoted to skin conditions at end of life, evidence-based guidelines specific to wound care are limited.

This book provides guidance for the assessment and palliative management of wounds.
Many factors influence whether healing a wound is a realistic goal. Whether the goal is for healing or for symptom relief, untreated wounds can lead to physical discomfort and impair quality of life. It is necessary that they receive appropriate intervention.

IAHPC Book Review:

“This is my sort of manual. It’s short, clear, and well set-out with algorithms and treatment tables – even a physician can understand it. It starts with the BUILD program, which looks like a bit of classic palliative care. Build trust and respect with patient and family; Understand how wound impacts on them; Information about wound care and outcomes; Listen to the patient; and Develop a plan with the patient. … This book would be useful to the experienced professional as a quick treatment lookup tool, and as a learning guide for those less experienced…” – Dr Roger Woodruff, IAHPC International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care (IAHPC). IAHPC Book Reviews: Wound Care at End of Life. IAHPC News 2013;14(11). Available at http://hospicecare.com/about-iahpc/newsletter/2013/11/iahpc-book-reviews/

How to Use This Book:

Wound Care at End of Life is intended to be a quick reference guide for palliative management of wounds in hospice care. The authors and collaborators have systematically reviewed and collected the pertinent literature and resources related to palliative wound care.

• For those already skilled in wound care, this book can become a resource for support of current practices and a quick treatment lookup tool.
• For those with less wound care experience, this book can become a learning guide and a resource to ensure that all modalities of wound care are addressed during patient care visits.
• For educators, this book may be used as a training guide to address the basics of palliative wound care and assist learners in developing a comprehensive plan of care for the patient with wounds.