Final answer:
The best way to support a dying resident's family when the patient refuses food and fluids is to respect the patient's choices and offer emotional support to the family. Hospice care emphasizes patient comfort and dignity at the end of life and supports the family with education and consolation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best way hospice and facility staff can support an imminently dying resident's family who are upset that the resident is pushing away food and fluids is Option 3: Respect the resident's choices and offer emotional support to the family. Hospice care focuses on the comfort and dignity of the patient, acknowledging that at the end stages of life, forcing nourishment may not be beneficial and can be counterproductive to the patient's comfort. Research has shown that both the patient and the patient's family benefit from the supportive, palliative approach of hospice care, which alleviates the patient's pain and provides emotional support to family members.
When a resident refuses food and fluids, it is important for the staff to educate the family on the natural process of dying, which often includes a decrease in appetite and hydration needs. Hospice staff can assure families that this is a common part of the dying process and not necessarily associated with suffering. In this way, hospice personnel honor the dignity of the patient while supporting the family through their grief and fear associated with the impending loss.