title: Last hours of living.
abstract: The last hours of living can be one of the most important times in the life of any patient and his/her family. With appropriate preparation and careful management of the process by skilled clinicians, dying and death can be a comfortable and even rewarding experience for everyone involved. After death, careful attention to the grief of survivors can help them cope with their loss and rebuild their lives.
authors.affiliation: San Diego Hospice, 4311 Third Avenue, San Diego, CA 92130-1407, USA. fferris@sdhospice.org
authors.forename: Frank D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Ferris
mesh_terms: D032722:Advance Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001293:Attitude to Death; D003643:Death; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*