Caring in the Last Days and Hours Preparing the Person and the Family for the Last Days and Hours Some people will want to know what dying will look like and how to care for the dying person before death is im- minent, and others will not want to know until the per- son is actively dying. The authors of Transitions in Dying and Bereavement: A Psychosocial Guide for Hospice and Palliative Care suggest that the family is often ready to discuss the changes that may occur in the last days and hours when the dying person’s score on the Palliative Per- formance Scale (PPS) has decreased to 30% to 20% (Vic- toria Hospice Society, Wainwright, W., and Thompson, M., 2016). The person’s condition will change in the last days and hours, and in some cases changes are rapid. Health care providers (HCPs) will need to anticipate changes in medications and needs for support, develop a plan for the time of death, and identify rites and rituals that are rel- evant to the dying person and their family. Assessing, sharing information, and responding to ques- tions and concerns are part of preparing the person and family for the last days and hours. In some cases, HCPs may need to consider how to offer support if the family or the person is not interested in talking about death. Assessing and Sharing Information Assessing what the family knows about the dying process, the last days and hours in particular, what they want to know, and what they may need to know if they are pro- viding care will facilitate excellent care for the person and family. 7