Table 3.

Results of literature search "end of life needs of the elderly"

Field	Topics
Geriatrics	○ Holistic approach is important [11]. ○ Even though a potential life limiting disease is present, common symptoms of old age like bladder control difficulties or impaired vision can cumulatively have a considerable negative effect on quality of life [25]. ○ Geriatric assessment and knowledge of common problems like falls, delir, fragility, incontinence and especially dementia [6,21]. ○ Multimorbidity as a challenge for prognosis, e.g. leading to inefficient timing of hospice admission [7,21].
Palliative Care	○ Personal, psychological and existential issues have to be addressed [11,17,23]. ○ Cultural influence on personal, psychological and existential issues has to be considered [11]. ○ Efficient pain control is crucial [17,24]. ○ Liberty from pain is necessary for personal, existential and spiritual issues to be addressed [24]. ○ Patients aged 70 and above need support in dealing with existential and spiritual issues despite their age [25]. ○ While treating symptoms, the fragile equilibrium of an elderly person's physiology has to be kept in mind at all times [7,8,21].
Communication and patient autonomy	○ Effective communication between caretakers and patient leads towards improved health outcomes and quality of care [6,8,17]. ○ In dementia, it is crucial to plan and implement a plan of care while the patient is still able to do so. The family should be involved at an early stage [6]. ○ Communication with the patient's family is a necessary part of care work [22]. ○ The interprofessional team approach is important [11,22].
Organisation and social networks	○ Unlike patients in their mid-life segment, elderly people often have a weak social network. This leads to a lack of close persons who can be addressed with personal, existential and spiritual issues, also less support in organisational issues e.g. through family members is accessible [8]. ○ A key worker can help improve the organisation of care [17]. ○ Patients have to be educated and aided by caretakers to develop and implement a thorough plan of care. Advance directives should be made [6-8]. ○ Elderly patients do wish to have more contact with their caretakers but often do not ask for it for fear of being a burden [23,25].