Download or read book Approaching Death written by Committee on Care at the End of Life and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1997-10-30 with total page 457 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When the end of life makes its inevitable appearance, people should be able to expect reliable, humane, and effective caregiving. Yet too many dying people suffer unnecessarily. While an "overtreated" dying is feared, untreated pain or emotional abandonment are equally frightening. Approaching Death reflects a wide-ranging effort to understand what we know about care at the end of life, what we have yet to learn, and what we know but do not adequately apply. It seeks to build understanding of what constitutes good care for the dying and offers recommendations to decisionmakers that address specific barriers to achieving good care. This volume offers a profile of when, where, and how Americans die. It examines the dimensions of caring at the end of life: Determining diagnosis and prognosis and communicating these to patient and family. Establishing clinical and personal goals. Matching physical, psychological, spiritual, and practical care strategies to the patient's values and circumstances. Approaching Death considers the dying experience in hospitals, nursing homes, and other settings and the role of interdisciplinary teams and managed care. It offers perspectives on quality measurement and improvement, the role of practice guidelines, cost concerns, and legal issues such as assisted suicide. The book proposes how health professionals can become better prepared to care well for those who are dying and to understand that these are not patients for whom "nothing can be done."
Download or read book Hospice written by Jack McKay Zimmerman and published by Urban & Schwarzenberg. This book was released on 1986 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Dying Well written by Ira Byock and published by Penguin. This book was released on 1998-03-01 with total page 321 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From Ira Byock, prominent palliative care physician and expert in end of life decisions, a lesson in Dying Well. Nobody should have to die in pain. Nobody should have to die alone. This is Ira Byock's dream, and he is dedicating his life to making it come true. Dying Well brings us to the homes and bedsides of families with whom Dr. Byock has worked, telling stories of love and reconciliation in the face of tragedy, pain, medical drama, and conflict. Through the true stories of patients, he shows us that a lot of important emotional work can be accomplished in the final months, weeks, and even days of life. It is a companion for families, showing them how to deal with doctors, how to talk to loved ones—and how to make the end of life as meaningful and enriching as the beginning. Ira Byock is also the author of The Best Care Possible: A Physician's Quest to Transform Care Through the End of Life.
Download or read book Care of the Dying Patient written by David A. Fleming and published by University of Missouri Press. This book was released on 2010-04-15 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although the need for improved care for dying patients is widely recognized and frequently discussed, few books address the needs of the physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, hospice team members, and pastoral counselors involved in care. Care of the Dying Patient contains material not found in other sources, offering advice and solutions to anyone—professional caregiver or family member—confronted with incurable illness and death. Its authors have lectured and published extensively on care of the dying patient and here review a wide range of topics to show that relief of physical suffering is not the only concern in providing care. This collection encompasses diverse aspects of end-of-life care across multiple disciplines, offering a broad perspective on such central issues as control of pain and other symptoms, spirituality, the needs of caregivers, and special concerns regarding the elderly. In its pages, readers will find out how to: effectively utilize palliative-care services and activate timely referral to hospice, arrange for care that takes into account patients’ cultural beliefs, and respond to spiritual and psychological distress, including the loss of hope that often overshadows physical suffering. The authors especially emphasize palliative care and hospice, since some physicians fear that such referrals may be viewed by patients and families as abandonment. They also address ethical and legal risks in pain management and warn that fear of overprescribing pain medication may inadvertently lead to ineffective pain relief and even place the treating team at risk of liability for undertreatment of pain. While physicians have the ability to treat disease, they also help to determine the time and place of death, and they must recognize that end-of-life choices are made more complex than ever before by advances in medicine and at the same time increasingly important. Care of the Dying Patient addresses some of the challenges frequently confronted in terminal care and points the way toward a more compassionate way of death.
Download or read book The Medical Care of Terminally Ill Patients written by Robert E. Enck and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 2002 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the publication of the first edition of The Medical Care of Terminally Ill Patients, the field of palliative care has progressed significantly, both socially and scientifically. In this new edition, Dr. Robert Enck reviews the results of clinical studies devoted to the care of dying patients. Special attention is given to pain management, management of symptoms, care of advanced cancer patients, and care of patients with nonmalignant diseases. More than 100 new references, a new list of abbreviations, and tables with new drugs and dosages provides valuable information. Dr. Enck places great emphasis on enhancing the quality of life while addressing the most common symptoms of terminal illness.
Download or read book Caring for the Terminally Ill written by Lisette Laval and published by Memorable Farewells. This book was released on 2011-01-01 with total page 20 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The information in this eBook makes the overwhelming and challenging task of caring for the terminally ill less daunting by explaining the feelings of grief that are experienced by the terminally ill, the caregiver and others involved, giving practical suggestions on how to communicate with the terminally ill, providing information to help address the feelings of grief and come to terms with the illness.
Download or read book Dying in America written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2015-03-19 with total page 470 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For patients and their loved ones, no care decisions are more profound than those made near the end of life. Unfortunately, the experience of dying in the United States is often characterized by fragmented care, inadequate treatment of distressing symptoms, frequent transitions among care settings, and enormous care responsibilities for families. According to this report, the current health care system of rendering more intensive services than are necessary and desired by patients, and the lack of coordination among programs increases risks to patients and creates avoidable burdens on them and their families. Dying in America is a study of the current state of health care for persons of all ages who are nearing the end of life. Death is not a strictly medical event. Ideally, health care for those nearing the end of life harmonizes with social, psychological, and spiritual support. All people with advanced illnesses who may be approaching the end of life are entitled to access to high-quality, compassionate, evidence-based care, consistent with their wishes. Dying in America evaluates strategies to integrate care into a person- and family-centered, team-based framework, and makes recommendations to create a system that coordinates care and supports and respects the choices of patients and their families. The findings and recommendations of this report will address the needs of patients and their families and assist policy makers, clinicians and their educational and credentialing bodies, leaders of health care delivery and financing organizations, researchers, public and private funders, religious and community leaders, advocates of better care, journalists, and the public to provide the best care possible for people nearing the end of life.
Download or read book For the Living written by Mark Golubow and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-10-26 with total page 187 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rarely heard about in our society are caregivers' thoughts and feelings about life, death, and dying and how they act on those feelings. "For the Living: Coping, Caring and Communicating with the Terminally Ill" provides an in-depth, qualitative look at the experiences of oncology healthcare professionals as they work with terminally ill patients. Through a series of recorded and edited interviews, the author explores the social and cultural dynamics that affect physicians, nurses, and social workers routinely encountering mortality and loss. What death and the prospect of dying mean to these individuals should not be taken lightly.
Download or read book Nursing Support for Families of Dying Patients written by Rosemary McIntyre and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2001-11-28 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When a patient has an advanced disease, considerable demands are placed on the whole family. Whilst coping with their own profound emotions, close relatives commonly have to support their loved ones through a range of treatments as the disease progresses through stages of remission and recurrence, until finally, a shift to a palliative mode of treatment must be faced. In such situations, family roles and relationships are likely to be disrupted and family members? coping resources can be stretched to the limit. It is clear from this that by the time the terminal stage of the patient?s illness is reached, the family may have travelled a long and difficult road, and close relatives are likely to be emotionally vulnerable and in need of support.This study explores the needs of relatives of terminally ill patients and the concerns of nurses who provide care in the hospital. The research data is used to design, implement and evaluate clinical standards for improved family support.
Download or read book Care of the Dying Patient written by David A. Fleming and published by University of Missouri Press. This book was released on 2010-04-15 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Originally published as a series of articles in Missouri medicine.
Download or read book Caring for the Dying Patient and the Family written by Janet Moscrop and published by Springer. This book was released on 2013-11-11 with total page 301 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This third edition of a popular textbook has been completely revised by the joint editors, Janet Moscrop and Joy Robbins. As in previous editions, the focus is on the person dying at home, in residential care or in hospital and the emphasis is on teamwork in caring for the individual and their relatives and friends. Experts in all aspects of care have contributed to this complete revision of the previous text and each chapter is written by a different member of the multiprofessional team. The chapter on the terminal care of people suffering from AIDS has been enlarged and consideration is also given to care of those in the term inal stages of other non-malignant diseases. Other new material includes chapters on complementary therapy, the use of the day centre, the value of volunteers, diversional therapy and respite care. The chapter on bereavement covers many aspects of grief and loss and there is a sensitive approach to the need for supporting staff in this spe cialized work. Consideration is also given to the needs of dying and griev ing people from differing ethnic backgrounds with varying cultural expectations in a pluralistic society. The third edition offers a broad overview of the support given to the dying person and the carers by medical and nursing staff, physiothera pists, pharmacists, social workers, the chaplaincy and members of the pastoral care team. Students of all these disciplines should find this book both readable and informative.
Download or read book Living with Dying written by Katie Ortlip and published by . This book was released on 2016-11-07 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: People today are not only living longer, they are also living sicker-- making aging and caring for elderly loved ones more complicated than ever before. Brent provides a comprehensive, straightforward handbook to help family caregivers with sibling and parent-child communication, end-of-life decision making, and guidance for how to help a loved one medically, financially, and emotionally.
Download or read book Hospice written by Parker Rossman and published by Fawcett. This book was released on 1979 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A revolutionary approach to caring for the terminally ill patient that can make the end of life a meaningful time The hospice movement, taking its name from the medieval way stations for weary pilgrims, seeks to discover and provide new, humane ways of caring for the contemporary pilgrim who is passing through life's last station. Once an illness has been diagnosed as terminal . . . * What does the patient--as a total person--really need? * Should we isolate patients away from friends, children, grandchildren, and all their familiar surroundings? * Where can families spend time together, sharing meals in a pleasant setting? * Can a terminally ill patient be cared for at home? * How can we help children handle the death of a loved one? The last months of life can be a time of happiness for patients and their families. The hospice is dedicated to making possible something we all have a stake in: a dignified and honorable death.
Download or read book Final Journeys written by Maggie Callanan and published by Bantam. This book was released on 2008-03-25 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For more than two decades, hospice nurse Maggie Callanan has tended to the terminally ill and been a cornerstone of support for their loved ones. Now the coauthor of the classic bestseller Final Gifts passes along the lessons she has learned from the experts—her patients. Here is the guide we all need to understanding the special needs of the dying and those who care for them. In her work with thousands of families, Maggie Callanan has witnessed the tears, the love—and the confusion and conflict—this final passage can evoke. Now, with honesty, compassion, and even humor, she empowers patients and their families to write the last chapter of their lives with less fear, less pain, and more control—so that all involved can focus their energies on creating the best possible ending. From supporting a husband or wife faced with the loss of a spouse, to helping a dying mother prepare her children to carry on without her, Callanan’s poignant stories illustrate new ways to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges of this difficult and precious time. She brings welcome clarity to medical and ethical concerns, explaining what to expect at every stage. Each brief chapter also conveys a home truth about making crucial treatment decisions, supporting the patient’s dignity and individuality, and lightening the burden on caregivers. Final Journeys is designed to be your companion, resource, and advocate. From diagnosis through the final hours, it will help you keep the lines of communication open, get the help you need, and create the peaceful end we all hope for.
Download or read book Palliative Care A Practical Guide for the Health Professional written by Kathryn Boog and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2007-10-23 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book encourages health professionals to reconceptualise their practice in the light of the fact that their patients are deteriorating and dying, supporting them in their dichotomous role which involves affirming that person's life whilst acknowledging that that life is ending. Professionals are encouraged to think laterally, to be creative in their use of their core skills, and to use their life skills and experience to change the focus of their interventions. By making these changes, those involved with caring for the dying will be able to address issues related to burnout and feeling de-skilled. The authors share their considerable experience with the reader - what works for both patient and carer/professional when working in this field. By providing workable solutions, they empower those in disempowering situations, such as when working with terminally ill children and adults. The book is truly holistic and client-centred in its approach, upholding the philosophy of palliative care. Aimed at all who interact with children and adults who have a life-limiting condition or who are dying Offers practical examples of approaches to dilemmas and emotional issues commonly face by those working in palliative care Encourages professionals to think laterally, to be creative in their use of core skills, and to use their life skills and experience to change the focus of their interventions Moves the emphasis away from the medical model to the emotional and spiritual influences on quality of life Offers clear, workable guidelines and demonstrates practical solutions, based on proven theory and experience, to problems encountered on a day-to-day basis by patients and those coming into contact with them
Download or read book The Shift written by Theresa Brown and published by Algonquin Books. This book was released on 2016-05-03 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Practicing nurse and New York Times columnist Theresa Brown invites us to experience not just a day in the life of a nurse but all the life that happens in just one day on a busy teaching hospital’s cancer ward. In the span of twelve hours, lives can be lost, life-altering treatment decisions made, and dreams fulfilled or irrevocably stolen. Unfolding in real time--under the watchful eyes of this dedicated professional and insightful chronicler of events--The Shift gives an unprecedented view into the individual struggles as well as the larger truths about medicine in this country. By shift’s end, we have witnessed something profound about hope and humanity.
Download or read book Improving Palliative Care for Cancer written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2001-10-19 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In our society's aggressive pursuit of cures for cancer, we have neglected symptom control and comfort care. Less than one percent of the National Cancer Institute's budget is spent on any aspect of palliative care research or education, despite the half million people who die of cancer each year and the larger number living with cancer and its symptoms. Improving Palliative Care for Cancer examines the barriersâ€"scientific, policy, and socialâ€"that keep those in need from getting good palliative care. It goes on to recommend public- and private-sector actions that would lead to the development of more effective palliative interventions; better information about currently used interventions; and greater knowledge about, and access to, palliative care for all those with cancer who would benefit from it.
