Question

how the palliative care team can show respect for the carer and give an example of how a care worker can demonstrate this.

Answer 1

PALLIATIVE CARE:

WHO defines palliative care as-

It is the approach that improves the quality of life to patients & families facing problems from life-threatening illness by relieving suffering through an early identification & impeccable assessment and treatment of pain & other problems (physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

- It is an integrated service of support for alleviation of symptoms.

The hospice nurse clarifies that hospice service is initiated when curative type of treatment is no longer effective.

Objective of Hospice service:

- Keep the patient comfortable as death approaches.

Goals of hospice service:

- Alleviating symptoms of approaching death
- Educating and supporting primary caregivers
- Using family input for designing a plan of care
- Encouraging patients and caregivers to enjoy life

- It is important for the hospice nurse to provide time to confer with the patient and family to plan for changes in the scope of care.

Palliative care is a multidisciplinary team approach.

The Palliative Care team can includes:

• general practitioners
• nurses
• specialist palliative care doctors and nurses
• other specialist doctors such as cardiologists or respiratory physicians
• pharmacists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists
• social workers
• grief and bereavement counsellor

The Palliative care team together works for the patient as it is an end of life care. They show respect to the patient as they are going through a tough time of their life, team participates in decision making, planning of care, counselling, patient centered approach.

Example of situation: Many patients who are dying prefer to be cared for at home. This is a wonderful gift to give someone if managing of care is possible. It takes a lot of time, effort and organisation, and will need plenty of support. The palliative care team can help with this in a respectful way.