+1 (629)348-3199Short Article - Journal of Aging and Geriatric Psychiatry (2019) Volume 3, Issue 1
A Palliative Diagnosis, A Palliative Patient, What is Behind These Words?
Palliative care (from Fr. palliatif from Lat. Pallium - bedspread, cloak) is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients (children and adults) and their families who are faced with problems associated with a life-threatening disease by preventing and alleviating suffering for due to the early detection, careful assessment and treatment of pain and other physical symptoms, as well as the provision of psychosocial and spiritual support. Psychosocial and spiritual support should not be stopped with the death of the patient; it should continue during the period of mourning.
The most expressive, sharp and emotional, from my point of view, is the process of working with a palliative patient with an oncological diagnosis. When a person finds out about his diagnosis, often already at the stage, which does not give a chance of success in the cure and any significant continuation of life, the person already "mentally dies." Finding a palliative care specialist, psychologist, cleric next to him at this moment can play a decisive role in the quality of his future period of life. A multidisciplinary team of like-minded specialists is a decisive factor in the quality of life for a palliative patient. Every day, in your work with patients, your vision of the world, of life, of what really has value also changes.
Author(s): Maksym Bosenko