Social isolation at the end of life: A case report of one person's journey navigating the medical landscape during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Monica T AgostaMichael TangCindy L CarmackEduardo BrueraPublished in: Palliative & supportive care (2022)
Although social limitations are necessary to help provide safety to the patients and staff in a hospital, they can have a direct impact on the suffering of patients and families at the EOL. Helping to maintain dignity, reflect on their life, and resolve any conflicts in the presence of family members is a benchmark for providing quality palliative care. Being barred from visitation due to isolation, threatens this care and lays the foundation for complicated grief among family members. Further research is needed to help balance the needs of those at the EOL with public safety. One such measure to help ease distress is to allow for more virtual visitation through electronic measures.