Skin Changes at Life's End - A Guide for Patients, Families and Caregivers

Skin changes at life’s end (SCALE) reflect failure of the largest organ in the body—the skin. In a patient with SCALE, management goals are to provide comfort, relieve pain, and optimize wound care. Wound resolution is not the primary goal in SCALE. Knowledge about SCALE wounds can help guide optimal care choices. With that in mind, this illustrated white paper on SCALE has been prepared for patients, family, and caregivers who are looking for information on these skin changes and how best to manage them. Wound care professionals will find this guide to be a helpful educational resource to share with patients who are nearing the end of their lives, as well as with the families and caregivers of these patients. This guide covers the following topics:

• Types of SCALE wounds
• Goals of wound care
• Common treatment methods
• Interprofessional team roles
• Additional concerns in patients with SCALE
• Resources for further information