Palliative Care is an Approach for Aged Persons - An Enhanced View to the WHO Definition of Palliative Care

As demographic data show quality end-of-life care has to be understood increasingly as quality care for old and very old persons. On the other hand, care for old and old-old becomes more and more a core task of palliative care. Whether an old man or women is in need for palliative care is not so much defined by the closeness of his or her death. Much more the growing multimorbidity over a longer period of time and the onset of dementia as well as their physical, psychological, social and spiritual consequences generate a considerable need for (palliative) care. Therefore this paper purposely considers end-oflife within a wider lifespan. The paper takes a closer look at the following topics which are defined as central for palliative care for the elderly: communication, pain, dementia, multi-morbidity, bereavement and gender. The concept of palliative care has to be valid and relevant for all persons in need for palliative care. Therefore the review article attempts to further develop theWHOdefinition of palliative care by examining and elaborating its relevance for the care for old and very old persons.