Terminally Ill Case Study

Hospice bereavement programs focus on different aspects for family members. One is in helping family members to understand and move forward in the grief process. In order to do this, they must express their inner thoughts and feelings, but also, one must help them in identifying or developing and utilizing healthy coping strategies. This leads families into using this program to help them solve the problem and adjust towards the loss of their loved one. Also, it is essential to give guidance and assist these family members in decisions relative to the loss. Another factor that should be addressed is cultural and spiritual concerns because it is an important value in most people’s lives. In understanding the family member’s spiritual and cultural

The topic of research is important because it relates to how diet and exercise benefit terminally ill cancer patients. Several researchers studied and conducted trials for the major types of terminally ill cancers, including palliative cancer care. The researchers tried to help improve the patients’ health through diet and exercise programs which included nutritional counseling, energy or protein intake, or food and supplements. However, I learned that depending on the person or in this case the groups, that diet and exercise could benefit your overall health and well-being. After learning about diet and exercise and how it helps cancer patients, I recommend that you should always try to eat healthy meals throughout the day and incorporate

When it comes to the experience of grief that goes along with a terminal diagnosis or death the focus of care, therapy, and concern is often placed solely on the patient and his or her family and friends, and rightly so (Woolhouse, Brown & Thind, 2012). However, the health care professionals that help to care for these patients and their loved ones are often left in the shadows to cope with the grief that they may be feeling, alone (Woolhouse, Brown & Thind, 2012). Often, their grief is deemed unacceptable by their colleagues and society, and they are certainly not provided with the same level of care as someone who is experiencing real grief, first-hand (Leming & Dickinson, 2016). This paper discusses the differences that health

This study discussed the association between attitude toward hospice or palliative care of both patients with terminal illness and primary caregivers (An et al., 2014). A total of 359 patients and caregivers completed foundational questionnaires. 257 caregivers were interviewed after patients passed away (An et al., 2014). The result of foundational questionnaires demonstrated that 38.2 percent of patients and 51.5 percent of primary caregivers would like to have hospice or palliative care involved. In addition, the interview result presented that 40.5

The authors MacKinnon, Smith, Henry, Milman, Berish, Farrace, Korner, Chochinov, and Cohen (2016) revealed a receipt of the several financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of the article. The Canadian institute of Health Research (CIHR) studentship to the main author: the CIHR/Canadian Cancer Society Stratiegic Training Program in Palliative Care Research and the Family Caregiving at End of Life New Emerging Team (Mackinnon, Smith, Henry, Milman, Berish, Farrace, Cohen, 2016).

According to the Journal of Nurse Practitioners (2009), one common nursing diagnosis related to end of life care is ineffective family coping related to prolonged disease/disability progression that exhausts the supportive capacity of significant persons. Some nursing interventions that can be employed towards this diagnosis are 1. Determine the level of impairment of perceptual, cognitive, and/or physical abilities of the patient. 2. Evaluate illness and current behaviors that are interfering with the care of the patient. 3. Establish rapport and acknowledge difficulty of the situation for the family. 4. Involve significant other in information giving, problem solving, and care of patient as feasible. Instruct in medication administration techniques, needed treatments, and ascertain adeptness with required equipment, and 5. Include all family members as appropriate in discussions. Provide and/or reinforce information about terminal illness and/or death and future family needs (p.

Coping with a parent being seriously ill or the death of a parent can be extremely hard for children. They go through the feelings of loneliness, depression, and grief. When children are a witness to an ill parent or a deceased parent it causes an extreme amount of stress according to Buchwald, Delmar, & Schantz-Laursen (2011). Buchwald et al., (2011) also mentions that children may lose a sense of security when confronting a parent’s illness or death. Because of this, the child’s relationships are changed dramatically as well. The child must reestablish a relationship with the “healthier” parent since the other may be seriously ill or deceased. Like Buchwald, Koblenz (2015) also believes that maintaining a healthy relationship with the surviving or “healthier” parent will ultimately produce more positive results for the child that is coping.

Altilio, t.,& Otis-green, S. (2011). Oxford textbook of palliative social work. Oxford University Press USA. Pg. g380

Many caregivers express feeling inadequate in their self-efficacy plus frustration regarding the physician’s and/or institution’s course of treatment, at the same time a sense of isolation as most report a reluctance to share these feelings in fear of criticism or professional doubt. More so, the emotional toll of dealing with the patient’s feelings regarding their prognosis, care, and death, this inflicts chronic stress, and for some

When it comes to terminal illness, more people are turning to hospice care to be as comfortable as possible in their remaining time (Hospice Foundation of America, 2017). Many factors go into hospice care, also known as end of life care. Numerous services are offered to both they dying and their family (National Health Service, n.d.). Hospice care has shown to improve the quality of life for both the dying and their caregivers (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, n.d.). While many argue that hospice care can work for almost anyone, many cultural influences affect whether or not terminally ill patients opt for end of life care (Johnson, Kuchibhatla, & Tulsky, 2008).

This paper discusses the transition patients and families experience during palliative care. In patient’s experiencing terminal illnesses, care priorities tend to shift and instead of focusing on curative measures, it often shifts to palliative to provide comfort measures. Palliative care focuses on the relief of suffering and psychosocial support during serious illnesses. Its goal is to provide alleviation from symptoms and stress related to the disease process. Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for both the patient and the families involved. Palliative care aids patients experiencing Alzheimer’s disease symptoms such as depression, anxiety and difficulty sleeping and can assist with secondary diagnosis conditions that are painful. The palliative care team can serve as a support system and help discuss what’s important to the patient and family and what level of care the patient wants when they enter the last stage of Alzheimer’s disease. When palliative care is involved, the burden most families experience is eased and the patient is able to achieve the best quality of life.

A flexible and unbiased attitude is needed in order for the caregivers methods to be effective.Jaffe and Ehrlich's purpose in writing this book is to provide people with a holistic understanding of hospice care by highlighting the many factors of hospice care, such as: pain control, nursing support, Medicare, availability of hospice programs, curriculum of medical students, sensitivity to religious beliefs, as well as the details of each area. Through their stories, they provide examples of the above areas to help the reader understand the benefits of Hospice care.This paper will provide an outline of the main points in the preface, introduction, and each of the nine chapters and appendix A; excluding the foreword, Appendix B, and Appendix C.PREFACEByock explains "the power to change public and professional attitudes lies within the stories of people's experiences in dying" (1, p. viii). This solidifies the purpose of

Cancer is one of the top leading causes of terminal illness and death, and it takes the support of family and friends to help overcome many of the feelings that can occur before, during, and after a diagnosis. It is often difficult to understand how to cope with the feelings associated with losing people that you love and care about and watching other people that are affected suffer emotionally along with the ailing family member or friends. Emotional challenges are faced regarding what can be done to help the patient, family, and friends handle personal emotions throughout the duration of the illness and the stages of grief. A person that is dealing with a terminal illness, a family member, or friend must find a way to effectively handle and overcome the devastating feelings associated with having a loved one being diagnosed or passing away after a long terminal illness. There are different stages of grief and options available for any negative feelings associated with handling the illness and acknowledging the anticipated loss of a loved one. The grieving and coping process involves behavioral and emotional reactions, like shock and sadness, and then acceptance and understanding while working towards healing or rebuilding life.

Hospice is a concept of care that is based on the belief that meaningful living is achievable during a terminal illness that is free of interventions that prolong physiologic dying. The role of a hospice nurse is to take on a holistic approach to patient care that involves a careful evaluation of not only physical problems but also the psychosocial and spiritual dimensions of the patient and the patient’s family (Hinkle & Cheever, 2014). The hospice nurse is culturally aware and sensitive in their approach to communication that respects beliefs, attitudes, and values of the patient and family about end-of-life care. The hospice nurse also provides support to families even after the death of the patient (Nies & McEwen, 2015).

The most important principle that can help to guide people who care for the dying and bereaved is care. Care for the dying and care for the families, this is not to undermine the empathy, support and understanding that is needed. “All social workers, regardless of practice settings, will inevitably work with clients facing acute or long-term situations involving life-limiting illness, dying, death, grief, and bereavement. Using their expertise in working with populations from varying cultures, ages, socioeconomic status, and nontraditional families, social workers help families across the life span in coping with trauma, suicide, and death, and must be prepared to assess such needs and intervene appropriately’ (Bailey, 2003-2004). This is true not only for Social workers in hospice’s, but home care nurses, funeral directors and anyone who cares for the dying and bereaved. The older adult facing the end of life has many decisions to make as well as their families. They may also have psychosocial, spiritual as well as physical issues that need to be addressed. In addition to requiring sensitivity to their culture and religion, perhaps financial decisions may need attention. Compassion, sensitivity, respect, communication, are a few of the principles that govern workers in this field. Political agendas and laws also have an impact on the dying and their families, decisions whether funding and education