HUMANIZATION OF GERIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE: CONTRIBUTIONS FROM NURSING

Abstract

The humanization of geriatric palliative care aims to offer empathetic, dignified care centered on the elderly at the end of life, considering physical, emotional and spiritual aspects. Despite its relevance, it faces challenges such as lack of professional preparation, scarcity of resources and absence of adequate policies. This study aims to identify the role of nursing in promoting the humanization of palliative care for the elderly, highlighting its contributions to physical, psychological, social and spiritual well-being during the end of life. A literature review was adopted with the descriptors "Humanization", "Palliative Care" and "Elderly", in the BVS (LILACS and BDENF) and Google Scholar databases. The results show that humanization is essential, highlighting the central role of nursing in holistic care. They emphasize the importance of active listening, empathy, communication and respect for autonomy and individuality. However, challenges such as overload, scarcity of resources, rigid institutional culture and emotional impact hinder the implementation of this approach. The different perspectives enrich the debate, highlighting the complexity and importance of humanization. It is concluded that humanization in geriatric palliative care is essential to guarantee a dignified and welcoming end of life, and it is necessary to invest in training and policies that strengthen this practice.