Question

what are some challenges(physical, spiritual) that are associated with burdens and benefits of caring for patients during end of life treatment?

Answer 1

End of life care is support for people who are in the last months or years of their life .End of life Care should help to live as well as possible until to die with dignity. End of life care include physical,emotional,social and spiritual support to the patient and family. The goal of life care is to control pain and other symptoms so patient can be as comfortable as possible. The final stage of a terminal illness can be a highly challenging emotional time.

End of life care interventions in the acute settings were driven by preoccupation with treatment,routine practice and negative perceptions of palliative Care.All these factors shaped clinical decision making and prevented patients and their families from fully participating in clinical decision making at end of life.

Spiritual needs of patient cause satisfaction at end of life care, those help in persons spiritual growth and making the person ,social,hopeful,individual always thanks god. Spiritual needs are communication with others,communication with god,and being hopeful. Main challenges with spiritual needs are lack of time to provide spiritual Care,lack of training and education on spirituality,lack of clear guidelines in providing spiritual Care. It may be challenge to family also .

Physical needs at end of life care are. * oral and mouth care . *Nutrition :Its most challenging due to not accepted by patient. *Hygiene needed to maintain comfort and dignity.. *pain relief :Main component in end of life care .There are many ways if patient not able to take oral medicine ,like skin patches,intravenous,and diversional therapy. *Bowel and bladder Care. Immobile patient need catheter and bed pans. *positioning.:Thus is for comfort and allowed to be active patient.

Benifits of physical care at end of life care *Pain relief helps to improve comfortable. * Hygiene helps to prevent infection further. *Nutrition helps to maintain energy and blood glucose levels and helps to proper functioning of body. Main challenges are lack of time.Lack of knowledge about palliative care ,its budden for family to provide all these care,if they are working, lack of care givers, expansive pain reliving medications and expansive comfortable devices.