End of life Flashcards
What is supportive care?
Helping the Pt and family cope with the condition from prediagnosis to cure or bereavement
What is palliative care?
Care for Pt with an incurable disease through pain and symptom control and support psychologically and socially to achieve the best QoL.
What is end of life care?
The joining of supportive and palliative care through the final stage of life. Involves symptom and pain management, provision of PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL and SPIRITUAL care.
What considerations must be made in regards to psychological care?
Anxiety
Grief over loss
Fear of pain/death
Depression
What considerations must be made in regards to physical care?
Pain
Symptoms
Drug Side effects
Exhaustion
What considerations must be made in regards to social care?
Worry of family
Loss of income
Social isolation
Stigma
What considerations must be made in regards to spiritual care?
Questioning God
After life
Punishment
Value of life
What is the aim of palliative care?
To improve QoL not to prolong life.
What are the two trajectories of death experienced in A+E?
Spectacular - SUDDEN LOSS of a pt who was prioritised and palliative needs were met often due to them requiring rapid intervention.
Subtacular - Pt who is not high priority so get neglected with a lower intensity of care. Usual attend for symptom management for an underlying illness.
Pt moves from spectacular to subtacular one immediate issue is resolved.
What is the definition of End of life care?
<12 months to live
What are the issues with end of life care?
Lack of attention due to staffing issues
Poor communication
Failure to recognise expert family
Lack of continuity between primary and secondary care
What is the End of life care 2008?
Aims to bring about a change in quality of care, enhance choice and increase investment in EoL care.
What are the 5 principles of care (2014)?
COMMUNICATE clearly decisions and actions for the pts needs and wishes.
RESPECT needs of the family
INVOLVE Pt in decisions regarding their care
SENSITIVE communication
PLAN of care
What is an advanced statement?
Pt and family wishes to plan individual care. Not legally binding.
What is an advanced decision to refuse treatment?
Formulate what a Pt does not wish to happen. Legally binding based on the capacity to make decisions.
