Abstract
This is an introductory chapter which describes the challenges of an ageing population including the global trends and future projections regarding epidemiology and socio-demographics, and the needs of older people in the last years of their lives. The existing definitions of palliative care are presented, together with a discussion of the definitions of palliative care for older people, highlighting how they relate to and diverge from the definitions of palliative care in general. In order to face the consequences and challenges of ageing populations worldwide and the increasing number of people living and dying in older ages, a public health perspective on palliative care for older people is set up forward.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Palliative care for older people |
Subtitle of host publication | a public health perspective |
Editors | Lieve Van den Block, Gwenda Albers, Sandra Martins Pereira, Bregje Onwuteaka-Philipsen, Roeline Pasman, Luc Deliens |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Chapter | 1 |
Pages | 3-16 |
Number of pages | 14 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780191787133 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780198717614 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2015 |