Possibility and Compassion at End of Life

Possibility and Compassion at End of Life Alyson Banks CNS Palliative Care Galway Clinic Background The concepts of‘living’ and ‘quality of life’ are dynamic and highly subjective processes. Despite much research, the... [ view full abstract ]

Possibility and Compassion at End of Life
Alyson Banks CNS Palliative Care Galway Clinic
Background
The concepts of‘living’ and ‘quality of life’ are dynamic and highly subjective processes. Despite much research, the questions remain - Do patient’s live until they die? Is this an achievable goal?. This descriptive qualitative study was directed from a general nursing perspective. This study will add to the body of knowledge concerning the nature of living until death.
Objectives
1)To ensure patients live until they die and their families remain central in their needs. 2) To extrapolate the transitions in the care of the patient and their families in facilitating life 3) To identify, explore and analyze the learning and development needs of staff in achieving quality of life until death. 4) To explore the nature of a good death from participants’ perspective.
Methods
Facilitation of themed events appropriate to each individual, and contextualized within a non-specialist palliative care service in the Republic of Ireland.
‘Disney’ ‘Wedding’ ‘Camp Out’ ‘Spiderman’ ‘let’s go to the movies’ ‘Nothing can stop me-Helicopter’
The concepts of “living” and “quality of life” provide the theoretical framework for this study.
Results
The core theme which emerged from this study was one of satisfaction and contentment. A few moments of extra effort had a lasting effect on the memory of patient’s families.
Conclusion
It is difficult to ascertain patient and family satisfaction with a palliative care service simply because of the nature of what we do. Our role extends to the bereavement process and this method ensures our families are supported to an acceptable level of wellbeing and ensures each patient lives until they die. dThe goal of end of life care ought to be based on the premise that care is holistic, person centred and free from suffering.