Basics On Palliative Care In Tulsa

By Richard Patterson


One of the most difficult things for any individual or family to go through is to handle a diagnosis of a terminal illness. Apart from grappling with the certainty of facing death, there are also a myriad of problems that the affected individual has to grapple with. Palliation seeks to consider a patient as a whole rather than simply focusing on their diagnosis. If they intend to get palliative care in Tulsa patients should first understand a number of things on this treatment.

Terminal illnesses are so called because they have no known cure. However, a number of interventions can be undertaken to minimize the side effects related to the illness. Such side effects could be physical, emotional, spiritual, social or psychological. This treatment can be provided either in the hospital or at home depending on the how severe the condition is. Patients may also have a say on where they deem best to receive the treatment.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and often requires palliative care especially if metastases have occurred. Although some forms of the condition can be treated, a majority of them cannot and are considered terminal. Persons that have a diagnosis of terminal cancer have a right to dignified living even as they near their end of life. Severe sepsis, liver and renal failure and end stage HIV/AIDS may also require palliation.

Offering palliative services is a product of teamwork. Many different specialists have to work together in coordinated fashion to attend to the needs of the patient. The type of specialists needed largely depends on the exact nature of the illness. Each specialist has special training to handle this type of patients and focuses on just one area. A typical multidisciplinary team would comprise nurses, doctors, dieticians, social workers and religious leaders.

Emotional needs are also very important and should also be addressed with the same vigour as physical needs. Some of the commonest emotional problems patient may have to deal with are anxiety, depression and psychological stress. The severity of the condition will vary from one patient to another and so the management is also individualized. It is important that emotional support be initiated as soon as a diagnosis has been made.

Emotional needs may include depression and anxiety. These tend to vary from one person to another and the way to deal with them is largely individualized. It is important that treatment for these emotional problems be initiated as soon as possible and preferably be continued to the very end. Treatment may include psychological therapies as well as medication.

Relatives also need to receive special care. They are, in most instances, greatly affected by the sickness of their loved one. It is important that their emotional and psychological needs are addressed alongside those of the patient. While some relatives may find it easy to accept the certainty of death, others struggle to come to terms with the reality and would require counselling during the illness and even after.

Relatives or caregivers can easily be forgotten while addressing the needs of the patient. They too, are affected to a great extent. Psychological stress is quite common among these relatives and some of them also show various degrees of depression. While some relatives may find it easy to accept the inevitable, others struggle a lot and need to be counselled throughout.




About the Author:



0 commentaires:

Post a Comment