In my master's thesis I researched the needs of dying individuals and their relatives in the last stage of life in the area of the Municipality of Maribor and the role of social work in this process. I found out which needs are given enough attention and highlighted those that are underrepresented and should be given additional attention. In the theoretical part I presented the topic of attitudes towards death and dying from history to the present day, I continued with a description of the importance of palliative care for the dying and their relatives, and I also focused on palliative care in Slovenia. I presented the needs of the dying, which encompass a diverse and complex area related to the physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being of the dying in the last stages of their lives. I have paid particular attention to the analysis of the obligations and welfare of family caregivers of the dying, who play a key role in providing support and care in the home environment. In the last chapter of the theoretical part, I focused on social work in the field of care of the dying and looked into the specificities and obligations of working with this vulnerable group. The research problem of my master's thesis focuses on the needs of the dying and their relatives in the last phase of the dying person's life. The research area of the master thesis is limited to the municipality of Maribor, which allowed me to focus on the specific needs and challenges faced by dying individuals and their relatives in this local environment. This gave me insight into the social and health factors that influence the experience of dying people in the municipality of Maribor. In the results of the empirical part of the thesis, I found that the decision to die at home is often motivated by a desire for well-being, a sense of security, greater control over the situation and the possibility of self-determination. An important aspect of dying at home is financial security. Financial support is key to reducing distress in the last stages of life, as it allows for an improvement in quality of life. Financial reasons for choosing to die at home play a major role, as some people cannot afford quality or institutional care because of their financial situation, even though they would like to. Adaptation of the home environment is essential for the well-being of the dying person, including relocation to other rooms, adaptation of the bathroom and the use of medical aids to make life more comfortable. Dying in the home environment brings difficult feelings and challenges for both the dying and their loved ones, involving unpredictable changes and requiring constant adaptation and resourcefulness on the part of caregivers. Caring for a dying person is often challenging and overwhelming. Supporting relatives in providing medical assistance is also important and covers many areas, from personal hygiene care to medication dosage, wound care and nursing care. Professionals and organizations such as the Slovenian Hospice Association offer help and support to both the dying and their relatives in accepting the situation and processing their distress. For the dying is crucial to have contact with significant others who provide emotional support. Communication between the dying and their relatives and professionals is also important, enabling the expression of feelings and needs and fostering a sense of security and trust. The presence of family, touch and memories of past times can restore hope and emotional comfort to the dying at difficult times. Although dying people and their relatives face different challenges and hardships, with the help of professionals and mutual support, they can achieve a better quality of life and maintain hope for a better future.
|
