Eindleven

Eindleven is a Dutch noun that refers to the final stage of a person’s life, the period leading up to death. It is used primarily in medical, ethical, and sociological discussions about care, decision-making, and needs at the end of life.

Linguistically, eindleven is a closed compound formed from eind (end) and leven (life). The term tends to appear in formal, professional, or policy contexts. In everyday speech, speakers more often use expressions such as de laatste levensfase (the last phase of life) or het eindstadium van het leven.

In practice, the concept of eindleven overlaps with topics like palliatieve zorg (palliative care), quality of life, advance directives, and decisions regarding treatment and comfort measures. It is used to frame conversations about how to support individuals as they approach death, including medical, social, and ethical considerations.

See also: levenseinde, palliatieve zorg, laatste levensfase, euthanasie (where applicable by jurisdiction), and gerontologie.

Overall, eindleven captures the idea of a distinctly identifiable, final period within the human lifespan, used mainly in professional discourse to discuss care, rights, and choices at the end of life.