Back in 2008 I made a post about "Advance Directives". In that post I talked about the importance of planning for what you would want done if you were given a terminal diagnosis.In that post I mentioned that our Health Authority had put out a series of pamphlets entitled "Advanced Health Care Planning" They were a series of 4 pamphlets. The first pamphlet Planning Fact sheet; is used as a tool to help the individual plan for advanced care and talking to the family and health care provider about their wishes. The second pamphlet dealt with CPR and what that means and the benefits and risks. The third asks you to look at how much health care you want. It describes 4 different levels of care, Comfort, Limited, Surgical or Intensive Care. The final pamphlets talks about feeding and for some that can be one of the most difficult topics to discuss. In light of what is currently going on in my family it seemed like an apporiate subject to talk about again.
The other day when my mother and father in law returned home from their trip to the cancer agency they discussed with us what the oncologist had to say. One of the topics MIL mentioned was "Palliative care". When I heard her speak those words I thought, thank god someone had the wisdom and foresight to brooch this sensitive topic with them.
I was a palliative care nurse for 5 years. I was so please to hear that MIL was open to all the program had to offer.
Palliative programs help not only the patient, but they help the families deal with end of life issues and how to help the individual deal with medical or emotional issues that they may be faced with during their journey.
One such issue that my MIL might be faced with is that of oxygenation. With the cancer being in her lung she will come to the point when taking a simple breath will become a struggle. In order to help minimize this discomfort she will be entitled to receive home oxygen and oxygen therapy at no cost to her or the family. The Palliative care program picks up the cost.
For someone who has to deal with knowing their time is limited, the last thing they need to worry about is the financial implications of receiving such treatments. Knowing that things such as this will be taken care of provides a certain peace of mind and can allow the individual to focus on what truly matters to them at this point in time.
Palliative programs provide such a valuable service to the community. The program is headed by physicians, pharmacist, physio and occupational therapists, registered nurses, pastoral care, and even provides for alternative therapies such as music, pet, therapeutic touch and so much more. This program provides an opportunity for an individual to stay at home for as long as they like and can manage. It also provides an opportunity for respite for the caregiver.
There are so many wonderful services that this program provides, and I am so thankful that we have that available to my mother in law, and that she is receptive to becoming part of the program.
If you would like to learn more about Palliative care programs here are a few links.....
Canadian Hospice and Palliative Care Association
Health Canada
Cancer Research UK what is palliative treatment
The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
5 comments:
Excellent post about an important topic. When I was first diagnosed with stage III melanoma one of the first things I did was complete the forms for a health care proxy as well as living will. The cancer center gave me the forms before my lymph node dissection and I'm really glad I did it then because now I don't have to worry about it ever again.
As it turned out, so far, my cancer hasn't spread beyond the nodes and I'm far enough out from the only metastasis I had not to expect that it will but I'm still glad I took care of it. In some ways I think it's better to complete those forms before becoming terminal.
The only comical moment was when the nurse asked if I had a DNR order prior to my surgery. I said well ummm, no, I thought this was a pretty straightforward surgery and I assumed I wouldn't have a DNR until I was terminal. As a matter of fact I have turned in the living will which outlines the circumstances under which I would be DNR. She laughed and said, ooops, you're right that doesn't apply to you. We both were able to laugh about it.
My cousin is a hospice nurse and I was talking to her about friends who resisted hospice because they thought it meant they were giving up until they were told that sometimes people qualify for hospice but do get better and then the hospice care stops. My cousin said one problem she has is patients who are eligible for hospice and get better but credit the care they got through hospice with making them well enough to start clinical trials or other treatments but they are afraid they'll get worse without her care. That is definitely catch 22.
Take care, Carver
We have a brand new hospice here in Delta and I'm so glad about it. I think it's very important to be open and honest about your wishes before your loved ones have to make these decisions for you. Hoping and praying that your MIL will be okay with all that she has to face...you and your hubby's family, too.
It's good that your MIL is open to all the information available. So many people just turn off don't they?
Very good and very important words you imparted here! All too often people skirt around the end-of-life issues -both the patient and the families involved. This is the way to ease the transitions that will be encountered as much as possible.
Oh and I loved your post about the little frog! I'd probably have been a screaming maniac if one ever made its way inside the house. LOL
It made me so angry when the country first started talking about the Health Care Reform and one of the reasons most people were against it was their assumption that opening this discussion meant that the patients were being written off and no other care would be provided. Ignorance is treatable - but when the supposedly educated politicians jumped on that bandwagon - it proved to me that Stupidity isnt....
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