1. AIDS
* Medication no longer slows disease progression
* Increasing infections
* Difficulties with self-care
* Continued weight loss and weakness
2. ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
* Decreased ability for self-care
* Impaired swallowing, breathing
* Muscle wasting or rigidity
* Progressive weight loss
3. Alzheimer’s Disease or Senile Dementia
* Difficulty swallowing
* Loss of bowel and bladder control
* Inability to speak, dress and feed oneself
* Progressive weight loss
4. Cancer
* Spread to other organs (metastases)
* Treatment no longer slows disease progression
* Continued weight loss
5. Congestive Heart Disease
* Severe fatigue
* Shortness of breath at rest
* Chronic fluid build-up in chest and extremities
* Frequent hospitalizations
6. End-Stage Kidney Disease
* Severe fluid build-up in abdomen and extremities
* Unstable disease requiring frequent hospitalizations
* Dialysis or transplant appropriate, but not desired
7. Lung Disease
* Poor control of symptoms
* Disabling shortness of breath with discomfort
* Dependency on oxygen
* Frequent crisis hospitalizations
8. Multi-system Breakdown
* Multiple organ failure, such as heart and chronic lung disease
* Continued decline in overall health
9. Stroke
* Coma or persistent vegetative state; irreversible damage
* Inability to swallow
* Need for total care
|
