PALLIATION: Palliative care is an interdisciplinary EOL approach to care which manages life-threatening or serious illnesses, regardless of age or condition, with the intent of improving quality of life, addressing physical and psychological symptoms,
End-of-life care is designed to provide compassionate support to patients, regardless of their location, ensuring comfort and dignity during their final stages of life. Health care providers focus on pain relief, affirming life, and integrating psychological, spiritual, and cultural aspects of care.
Advance Care Planning:
Advance care planning involves you, as a capable adult, thinking and talking about your beliefs and values, and writing down your wishes or instructions regarding future health care treatment in the event you become incapable of speaking for yourself or making your own decisions. Advance care planning enables those who know you best to speak up for you and respect your wishes if asked to make a decision on your behalf.
*COLLABORATION
*COHESIVENESS
*CONTINUUM OF COMMUNICATION
*NURSES: Play a key role by establishing
a caring relationship with both patient
and family. They provide appropriate symptom-control measures for maintaining the patient's dignity & self-esteem. They prevent feelings of abandonment or isolation, and they provide a comfortable & peaceful environment at the time of death.
They reassess patients on an continuum as patients' needs change, to maintain optimal comfort for the patient.
HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS:
*provide pain relief
*affirm life and regard death as a normal process
*neither hasten nor postpone death
*integrate psychological, spiritual,
& cultural aspects of patient care
*offer a support system to help
patients live as actively as possible
until death.
*help families cope during patient's illness
and their own bereavement.
*enhance the quality of life
*provide post-mortem care
SUPPORT SERVICES for loved ones:
counselling, anticipatory grief,
bereavement, respite, financial stresses,
planning
Compassionate care is provided wherever the
patient lives, or prefers to be (home, hospital,
long-term care home or other)
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM: PHYSICIANS,
NURSES, SOCIAL WORKERS, PHARMACISTS,
PASTORAL CARE STAFF, CARE AIDES,
VOLUNTEERS, OTs, PTs, complementary
therapists (music, art, massage), informal
caregivers
MEDICAL SUPPORT: analgesics, opiods, chemotherapy, radiation, systemic steroids, surgery, pt & ot
"Palliate" latin root "palliare", meaning "to cloak". synonyms- cover, conceal
In 2015, Canada ranked 11th out of
80 countries on the international
"QUALITY OF DEATH" index based
on EOL care factors.
PALLIATION:
Palliative care is an interdisciplinary
EOL approach to care which manages life-
threatening or serious illnesses, regardless of age or condition, with the intent of improving quality of life, addressing physical and psychological symptoms, and facilitating a dignified death.
Potter, P.A. & Perry, A.G.; Canadian editors: Ross-Kerr, J.C. & Wood, M.J. Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing (5th Ed.) Canada: Mosby Elsevier 2014
*COMFORT, QUALITY OF LIFE,
PRESERVATION OF DIGNITY
FOR THE PATIENT *
HOLISTIC CARE THAT ENCOMPASSES
THE PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL,
SOCIAL, SPIRITUAL, & EXISTENTIAL
ASPECTS OF THE PATIENT'S ILLNESS.
THIS INCLUDES CARING FOR
THE FAMILY.
AlloWS the patient to have autonomy to make more informed choices, to better alleviate symptoms, & to have more opportunity to manage unfinished business.
