The illness experience of older adults near the end of life: a systematic review.

A systematic literature review identified qualitative studies of issues important to older people near the end of their lives, to develop a model of the illness experience near the end of life based on the views of older people. Six elements were identified from 40 studies that comprise a core domain of the experience of illness while dying: burden, suffering, hope, dignity, decision making, and control and autonomy. These elements were interwoven with three main themes: contextual factors, perceptions and concerns, and response to illness. Collectively, the core domain and the three themes comprise a model of the experience of illness near the end of life.