End of Life Care

    On Tuesday, April 29, SPPC will be hosting another workshop in our on-going series on health care for the elderly and for patients with a terminal diagnosis, with Linda Cliff as our presenter.
     Linda has extensive experience in nursing, hospice and community health, and a true passion for her profession.  Her last workshop, in November, was titled,  
Let’s Talk About End of Life Care

  Here is a summary from her notes

                                           

    Hospice Care began to be formally organized in the late ‘70s in Canada. In those early days the care was described as “skilled and compassionate care primarily directed to dying and the bereaved to meet physical, emotional and spiritual needs”. By 2002 there were subtle changes to this definition “an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and families facing problems associated with life threatening illness and the prevention and relief of suffering.

     The emphasis has switched from the dying to the quality of living. Today we are using the term End of Life Care, as our population ages we are interested in the quality of living until we die.

     How can we accomplish this goal without ignoring the dying part of the equation? The answer lies in the application of the principals of Hospice/Palliative care. As our population ages, the demand for service will increase. Currently seniors represent about 14 percent of the Canadian population this group is expected to grow to 25 percent of the population by 2036. It is estimated that by 2025, two-thirds of Canadians who die will have two or more chronic illnesses and will have lived for months or years in a frail state of health. There is a way through this challenging situation and it involves an integrated approach to care that has been named the Palliative Approach. The care is patent centered, includes open communication between caregivers and patients and their families about the illness trajectory and advanced care planning, and psychosocial and spiritual support for both patients and family members. It focuses on providing care and enhancing quality of life throughout the illness using knowledge of pain and symptom management.

     This care requires patients and families to be involved with their care team, for them to be informed and seen as partners in health care. It requires that patients be given accurate information about what can and cannot be done for treatment of their disease. When we focus on this type of inclusive and informed care we are able to improve our quality of life even when we are dying. A caring approach such as this will help us all to find the dignity we long for as we face end of life challenges.
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     The above is just a brief overview.  Linda provided much more information at the meeting and was available to take questions.  So, if you missed that one, here's your chance to mark your calendar for the next one, April 29, at 10:00 am in the Molloy Hall.  
     We will all face these end of life decisions one day, so it doesn't hurt to be prepared, and where better to face difficult matters than in the loving community of our congregation.