D3 · Unfinished affairs or wishes
Actual End of life
Definition
The person has legal, family, or personal matters to settle.- Short time left
- unresolved conflicts
- legal matters
- Asks to see family
- wants to make a will
- restlessness
📋 Scenario
A dying father wants to speak with his estranged son.
Subjective (S): "I want to see my son before I die."
Objective (O): Wants to settle family matters; restless; legal matters unfinished.
Assessment tools for this scenario: CP-END End-of-Life Comfort Check
Validated scales to consider: ESAS
**CarePath diagnosis:** Unfinished affairs or wishes related to short time left, as evidenced by asks to see family and wants to make a will.
**Interventions and rationale**
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Listen. | Listening shows respect and lets him say what matters most, so the team understands his wishes and fears before time runs out. |
| Help plan visits. | Dying people often have limited time and energy, so planning visits quickly helps a meeting with his son happen while he can still take part. |
| Involve a social worker and chaplain. | A social worker can help with family contact and legal matters, and a chaplain with spiritual peace, covering needs the nurse cannot meet alone. |
| Document wishes. | Recorded wishes make sure that others know and respect what he wants, which gives him reassurance and avoids confusion or disputes later. |
**Expected outcomes**
- Meets his son or arranges contact.
- Wishes documented.
- Reports peace.
**Linking the data to the diagnosis**
This is an actual problem because his unfinished matters are already weighing on him. He is restless, has unfinished legal matters, wants to settle family issues and says, "I want to see my son before I die." His time is short, so delay could mean the chance is lost. This fits better than general distress because the concern is specific: reconciliation and legal affairs. The plan listens, arranges contact, involves a social worker and chaplain and records his wishes. The aim is that he meets his son or arranges contact, his wishes are documented and he reports peace.
CarePath diagnosis
Unfinished affairs or wishes related to short time left, as evidenced by asks to see family and wants to make a will.
Interventions and rationale
Listed in priority order.
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| 1. Listen. | Listening shows respect and lets him say what matters most, so the team understands his wishes and fears before time runs out. |
| 2. Help plan visits. | Dying people often have limited time and energy, so planning visits quickly helps a meeting with his son happen while he can still take part. |
| 3. Involve a social worker and chaplain. | A social worker can help with family contact and legal matters, and a chaplain with spiritual peace, covering needs the nurse cannot meet alone. |
| 4. Document wishes. | Recorded wishes make sure that others know and respect what he wants, which gives him reassurance and avoids confusion or disputes later. |
Expected outcomes
- Meets his son or arranges contact.
- Wishes documented.
- Reports peace.
Linking the data to the diagnosis
This is an actual problem because his unfinished matters are already weighing on him. He is restless, has unfinished legal matters, wants to settle family issues and says, "I want to see my son before I die." His time is short, so delay could mean the chance is lost. This fits better than general distress because the concern is specific: reconciliation and legal affairs. The plan listens, arranges contact, involves a social worker and chaplain and records his wishes. The aim is that he meets his son or arranges contact, his wishes are documented and he reports peace.