Chapter 23: Death, Dying, and Hospice

Vocabulary flashcards for Chapter 23 covering key terms and concepts related to death, dying, stages of grief, hospice, palliative care, and postmortem care.

Terminal illness

A disease or condition that will eventually cause death.

Grief

Deep distress or sorrow over a loss.

Denial (Stage of Dying)

The stage of dying characterized by the thought or statement, "No, not me."

Anger (Stage of Dying)

The stage of dying characterized by the thought or statement, "Why me?"

Bargaining (Stage of Dying)

The stage of dying characterized by the thought or statement, "Yes me, but…"

Depression (Stage of Dying)

The stage of dying characterized by a need to mourn and review one's life.

Acceptance (Stage of Dying)

The stage of dying characterized by preparing for death.

Hospice care

Holistic, compassionate care given to people who have approximately six months or less to live.

Palliative care

Care that focuses on the comfort and dignity of a person who is very sick and/or dying, rather than on curing the person.

Cheyne-Stokes

Alternating periods of slow, irregular respirations and rapid, shallow respirations, along with periods of apnea.

Rigor mortis

The Latin term for the temporary condition after death in which the muscles in the body become stiff and rigid.

Postmortem care

Care of the body after death.

Biodegradable

Capable of breaking down or being decomposed by bacterial or other living organisms.