This end-of-life course offers a look into how the caregiver can provide physical care during the end-of-life process by understanding nutrition, proper mouth care, comfort medications, and more.

Who is Barbara Karnes?

Barbara Karnes is an award-winning end-of-life educator, award-winning nurse, who won the NHPCO Hospice Innovator Award in 2018, and was the 2015 International Humanitarian Woman of the Year!

While at the bedside of hundreds of people during the dying process, Hospice Pioneer Barbara Karnes noticed that each death was following a near-identical script. Each person was going through the stages of death in almost the same manner, and most families came to her with similar questions. These realizations led Barbara to sit down and write Gone From My Sight, “The Little Blue Book” that changed the hospice industry.

Describe the relationship between changes in eating habits and the dying process. List the recommendations for nutrition as a person approaches the end of their life. List at least three ways to assist clients at end-of-life with skin care, positioning, mouth care, and bowel care. Understand the role of oxygen, intravenous fluid, and medications at end-of-life.