Occupational therapy in end-of-life care: Guidelines for practitioners

All individuals have the fundamental right to comprehensive health care at the end of life (EoL) regardless of functional status, diagnosis, or life expectancy. Worldwide, nearly 20 million individuals need EoL care services every year; however, only 14% receive them (von Post & Wagman, 2019). Within that 14%, more than 85% of hospice patients require assistance with at least one ADL, though only about 10% receive occupational therapy services, negatively impacting patients’ quality of life (QoL) (Mueller et al., 2021). The literature depicts significant underutilization of occupational therapy services for this population despite the compelling need (Knecht-Sabres et al., 2019; World Federation of Occupational Therapists [WFOT], 2016). The absence of occupational therapy in EoL care directly impacts the QoL of patients with terminal illnesses and their families.