Range Of Communication Strategies And Processes Which Are Central To The Work In Palliative Care
Employ a range of communication strategies and processes which are central to the work in palliative care;
Effective communication skills with those who display emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, depression, withdrawal or confusion
People when diagnosed with a life limiting illness can show a range of different emotions such as fear, sadness and anger. You need to be sensitive towards your patient showing these emotions and you should also have compassion.
Effective communication skills with those who have communication difficulties, for example hearing impairment and speech difficulties
Someone with a hearing impairment and speech difficulties can find it hard to understand what you are saying or to be fit to hear what you are saying …show more content…
correctly. Ensure that when you are speaking to speak slowly and raise your voice a bit but don’t shout have a calm tone of voice also make sure that you are facing your patient that if necessary they can lip read you, if it is needed repeat what you have said to give the patient a better opportunity to hear you.
Identify personal strengths and weaknesses in communicating with the dying person and his/her family, carers and significant others.
I feel that I am a good communicator I can communicate honestly both verbally and non-verbally with the patients. I would be able to listen to the patient speaking about their fears and anxieties and be able to communicate back to them so that they will feel reassured and comfortable. I would also be observant and observe the non-verbal cues.
Such as:
• Changing of breathing
• Stopping drinking fluids
• Agitation
• Sleeping more
• Blood pressures going down
• Purplish or blotchy red-blue colouring on the knee or feet
Reflect on the influence of personal attitudes and feelings when communicating with dying person and their family.
I would show the patient that I care and that I will do the best I can to help them in their end of life care as I will be one of the people that will be there a lot of the time, I will speak to them and comfort them let them know I am their I they need to talk to me. I will do the same for the family showing them compassion and understanding to what they are going through and help them with any information that I am eligible to give.
Promote an environment that allows dying person and his/her family, carers and significant others to express fears and emotions, including the use of touch and silence.
It is important when a patient is dying that they are in a calm environment and they are fit to rest without any disturbance, this will also give the family privacy and chance to speak with the patient if either of them has any fears that they are facing or any other emotions.
It is good when speaking to the patient to give him/her eye contact at all times if possible they will know that you want to be there with them, there might be times when it is silent but by touching the patient and holding their hand will give them a sense of peace and comfort.
Understanding cultural and religious diversity in relation to caring for a person diagnosed with a life-limiting illness his/her family, carers and significant others and also in the last days and hours of life.
In life today health care professionals have a better understanding of the different cultures and different religions. There spiritual believes will be discussed with the family and the patient when they coming into the care home and all this information will be recorded in the patients care plan, this will prevent anything going wrong when the patient does pass away so there will be no assumptions on what has to be …show more content…
done.
The role of the various members of the healthcare team when communicating information to the dying person and his/her family
The carers is the ones that is mainly with the client it is their role to be fit to communicate back to the healthcare team and be fit to explain and changes that might have occurred the carer needs to recognise if any changes take place, the doctor would have been the one to tell the patient off their condition and after this if it is needed the nurse is able to repeat back what has been said if the patient did not fully understand. The nurse will sensitively communicate with the family of any changes that has occurred.
Communicate information received from the dying person and his/her family to members of the healthcare team.
As the carer is the one that would mainly be with the client if the client expresses that they are feeling any pain or different symptoms or feeling different the carer needs to be capable of reporting this information back to the nurse/ healthcare team so they can try to help the client or give them pain control. The family may feel a sense of comfort around the carer as they would be there quite often so they might decide to confide in them if they have any concerns or fears this information also needs to be told to the nurse.
Strategies for seeking advice and assistance from members of the healthcare team
As a health care assistant it is important for you to be able to understand the different roles of each member of the palliative care team this will give you a better opportunity in having a chance of being able to relate to them if you are looking for advice based on the dying person. By understanding each members roles leaves the patient and the family able to be given the best quality of information.
Apply a person centred approach to caring for a person in their last days of their life to include the provision of supportive and holistic care promoting safety, dignity, respect and comfort.
A person centred approach for a person in the last days of their life.
It is important to be compassionate, respectful and to try and see things from the patient’s point of view. A patient in there last days of life should be made feel physically comfortable and should feel safe, with this approach family should also be involved it is important to make them involved, it is important that the patient and family trust you and you show them that you are a trustworthy person you might be one of the people that they decide to confide in.
Provide supportive, holistic care for the person while promoting safety, dignity, respect and comfort.
According to Sarah Lord holistic care support is to give people a chance in having independence, choice and safety. Acknowledge people’s personal beliefs and identities, it is important to give the patient effective communication and provide the best quality care.
Work effectively and with great sensitivity in relation to the dying person during the last days of their life significant others in a palliative care setting;
The role of support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of life, who is experiencing total
pain
A support worker should always be observing and recording any changes that might be made by the patient and report back to the nurse to tell them any of the changes if the patient seems like they are in pain it is important that the nurse knows this so they can try give tem medication and relieve them of their pain.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of life, who is experiencing fatigue
The support worker will be observing and recording the patient if the patient does seem like they are fatigue this should be reported to the nurse so she can try and prevent any more fatigue in happening.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of life, who is experiencing nausea and vomiting
The support worker will be observing the patient at all times if the patient is facing nausea and having vomiting the support worker will need to report this back to the nurse and will also have to make record of this the nurse will try and find out what is causing this to happen, the patient should be made comfortable and the nurse will give the patient medication to help them.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of life, who is experiencing breathlessness
The support worker will be observing any changes in the dying persons breathing as their breathing could become chesty, they might start to cough more, be wheezy, there could come a rattle in their breathing if any of these changes occur it needs to be recorded and reported back to the nurse. The nurse might change their position to help them breathe easier.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of life, who is experiencing diarrhoea/constipation
The dying person could be on varies different medications this is one of the things that could cause diarrhoea/constipation. Another min thing that could cause this is dehydration if the patient is not getting enough fluids this will happen the support worker will need to be recording what fluids the patient is getting, the support worker/ nurse should always be encouraging the patient to drink more if they are capable of doing it themselves if not they need to make sure to give the patient fluids.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of life, who is experiencing sore mouth/dry mouth
For the dying person this will more than likely occur there are different reasons for this happening it could be because of the type of medication that they are on, or depending on how much they are eating and drinking. If this is not detected early it can become very sore on the patient and could cause thrush happening. It is important to encourage fluids and to make sure that the patient oral hygiene is attended to try and prevent this from happening.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of their life, who is experiencing swallowing difficulties
Some patients may have problems swallowing depending on their needs and condition dysphagia is common in patients that might have had a stroke, MS, Parkinson’s, MND or a head injury. For patients with dysphagia the support worker must make sure that they have the correct amount of thick and easy in their food, and to have them sitting in the up-right position when they are assisting them with food, this will prevent choking or aspiration. The thick and easy will also make it easier for the patient to swallow. The support worker should always be observing, reporting and recording any changes the client is making.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of their life, who is experiencing altered state of consciousness
When patient is in an altered state of consciousness it is important that the support worker makes sure that the patient is comfortable as possible, the carer should try and comfort the patient by holding their hand and talking to them let them know that they are not alone, it is also important that the family is involved in this they should come and stay with them any changes that occur in the patient should be reported back to the nurse.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person with a syringe or medication patch
It is important that the medication patch is stuck on the body properly so that the pain relief can work correctly, the syringe should be check to make sure that it is not moved or falling out if either of these happen it could affect how the pain relief is working for the patient and they might not be able to express that they are feeling so much pain. The support worker needs to be always observing, reporting and recording if there are any changes or if either the syringe or medication patch is not on the body correctly or has moved. Use the range of skills required from a palliative support worker in relation to end of life care:
The diverse signs and symptoms that death is imminent
There is varies different signs that death is imminent. The support worker will be making sure that the patient is comfortable and observing any changes and reporting and recording any that occurs, she will be watching for signs of pain and reporting it back to the nurse so they can try and give the patient pain relief that they are not suffering in their last stage of life.
Some of these signs and symptoms would be:
• Coolness in tips in fingers and in the toes
• Increased physical weakness
• Mental confusion or disorientation
• Laboured breathing
• Social withdrawal
• Loss of appetite
Carry out duties after the person has died, in accordance with local workplace policy and in a way that is respectful to the deceased person and their belongings
You will need to inform the family and the next of kin. You will need to prepare the deceased body, to do this you will need to wash the body and put fresh clothes on, you will replace dentures if they had been removed before the patient passed away, place a pillow under the head for support and tidy the hair, it is important to make sure any equipment in the room is turned off and removed so as the room is tidy and peaceful for the family when entering to be with their loved one, any jewellery should be removed unless instructed not to be by the family and belongings should be given to the family.
The needs of specific vulnerable groups, in relation to death, dying and bereavement
• Children: a loved one passing can be difficult for children to come to terms with it is important that they are given bereavement counselling if it is needed this will help them to understand can to come to terms with what has happened. The carer should also show support to the child so as the child knows they are there if they need to talk.
• People with intellectual disabilities: it is important that someone with an intellectual difficulty is able to speak to a specialist/counsellor if they need to because it can be hard for them to understand the fact that a loved one has passed away.
People with mental health problems: should be brought to a counsellor if it is needed it can be hard for a person with mental health problems to understand completely what has happened and to come to terms with the fact that their loved one has passed away. You should show understanding and should give support to the person speak in a nice calm voice and listen to the person as they might be afraid or want to speak about any fears they are having.
Bibliography http://www.nhsiq.nhs.uk/media/2485900/duties_and_responsibilities_of_health_and_care_staff_-_with_prompts_for_practice.pdf http://www.focusing.org/klagsbrun.html https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/136442/EOLC_equality_assessment.pdf http://www.open.edu/openlearn/body-mind/health/nursing/the-importance-person-centred-approaches-nursing-care https://prezi.com/ml6_jtb5hu0u/principles-and-values-in-providing-holistic-support/ https://www.kingston.gov.uk/info/200136/funerals_cremations_and_cemeteries/338/carrying_out_the_arrangements_yourself_when_someone_has_died/2
Effective communication skills with those who display emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, depression, withdrawal or confusion
People when diagnosed with a life limiting illness can show a range of different emotions such as fear, sadness and anger. You need to be sensitive towards your patient showing these emotions and you should also have compassion.
Effective communication skills with those who have communication difficulties, for example hearing impairment and speech difficulties
Someone with a hearing impairment and speech difficulties can find it hard to understand what you are saying or to be fit to hear what you are saying …show more content…
correctly. Ensure that when you are speaking to speak slowly and raise your voice a bit but don’t shout have a calm tone of voice also make sure that you are facing your patient that if necessary they can lip read you, if it is needed repeat what you have said to give the patient a better opportunity to hear you.
Identify personal strengths and weaknesses in communicating with the dying person and his/her family, carers and significant others.
I feel that I am a good communicator I can communicate honestly both verbally and non-verbally with the patients. I would be able to listen to the patient speaking about their fears and anxieties and be able to communicate back to them so that they will feel reassured and comfortable. I would also be observant and observe the non-verbal cues.
Such as:
• Changing of breathing
• Stopping drinking fluids
• Agitation
• Sleeping more
• Blood pressures going down
• Purplish or blotchy red-blue colouring on the knee or feet
Reflect on the influence of personal attitudes and feelings when communicating with dying person and their family.
I would show the patient that I care and that I will do the best I can to help them in their end of life care as I will be one of the people that will be there a lot of the time, I will speak to them and comfort them let them know I am their I they need to talk to me. I will do the same for the family showing them compassion and understanding to what they are going through and help them with any information that I am eligible to give.
Promote an environment that allows dying person and his/her family, carers and significant others to express fears and emotions, including the use of touch and silence.
It is important when a patient is dying that they are in a calm environment and they are fit to rest without any disturbance, this will also give the family privacy and chance to speak with the patient if either of them has any fears that they are facing or any other emotions.
It is good when speaking to the patient to give him/her eye contact at all times if possible they will know that you want to be there with them, there might be times when it is silent but by touching the patient and holding their hand will give them a sense of peace and comfort.
Understanding cultural and religious diversity in relation to caring for a person diagnosed with a life-limiting illness his/her family, carers and significant others and also in the last days and hours of life.
In life today health care professionals have a better understanding of the different cultures and different religions. There spiritual believes will be discussed with the family and the patient when they coming into the care home and all this information will be recorded in the patients care plan, this will prevent anything going wrong when the patient does pass away so there will be no assumptions on what has to be …show more content…
done.
The role of the various members of the healthcare team when communicating information to the dying person and his/her family
The carers is the ones that is mainly with the client it is their role to be fit to communicate back to the healthcare team and be fit to explain and changes that might have occurred the carer needs to recognise if any changes take place, the doctor would have been the one to tell the patient off their condition and after this if it is needed the nurse is able to repeat back what has been said if the patient did not fully understand. The nurse will sensitively communicate with the family of any changes that has occurred.
Communicate information received from the dying person and his/her family to members of the healthcare team.
As the carer is the one that would mainly be with the client if the client expresses that they are feeling any pain or different symptoms or feeling different the carer needs to be capable of reporting this information back to the nurse/ healthcare team so they can try to help the client or give them pain control. The family may feel a sense of comfort around the carer as they would be there quite often so they might decide to confide in them if they have any concerns or fears this information also needs to be told to the nurse.
Strategies for seeking advice and assistance from members of the healthcare team
As a health care assistant it is important for you to be able to understand the different roles of each member of the palliative care team this will give you a better opportunity in having a chance of being able to relate to them if you are looking for advice based on the dying person. By understanding each members roles leaves the patient and the family able to be given the best quality of information.
Apply a person centred approach to caring for a person in their last days of their life to include the provision of supportive and holistic care promoting safety, dignity, respect and comfort.
A person centred approach for a person in the last days of their life.
It is important to be compassionate, respectful and to try and see things from the patient’s point of view. A patient in there last days of life should be made feel physically comfortable and should feel safe, with this approach family should also be involved it is important to make them involved, it is important that the patient and family trust you and you show them that you are a trustworthy person you might be one of the people that they decide to confide in.
Provide supportive, holistic care for the person while promoting safety, dignity, respect and comfort.
According to Sarah Lord holistic care support is to give people a chance in having independence, choice and safety. Acknowledge people’s personal beliefs and identities, it is important to give the patient effective communication and provide the best quality care.
Work effectively and with great sensitivity in relation to the dying person during the last days of their life significant others in a palliative care setting;
The role of support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of life, who is experiencing total
pain
A support worker should always be observing and recording any changes that might be made by the patient and report back to the nurse to tell them any of the changes if the patient seems like they are in pain it is important that the nurse knows this so they can try give tem medication and relieve them of their pain.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of life, who is experiencing fatigue
The support worker will be observing and recording the patient if the patient does seem like they are fatigue this should be reported to the nurse so she can try and prevent any more fatigue in happening.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of life, who is experiencing nausea and vomiting
The support worker will be observing the patient at all times if the patient is facing nausea and having vomiting the support worker will need to report this back to the nurse and will also have to make record of this the nurse will try and find out what is causing this to happen, the patient should be made comfortable and the nurse will give the patient medication to help them.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of life, who is experiencing breathlessness
The support worker will be observing any changes in the dying persons breathing as their breathing could become chesty, they might start to cough more, be wheezy, there could come a rattle in their breathing if any of these changes occur it needs to be recorded and reported back to the nurse. The nurse might change their position to help them breathe easier.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of life, who is experiencing diarrhoea/constipation
The dying person could be on varies different medications this is one of the things that could cause diarrhoea/constipation. Another min thing that could cause this is dehydration if the patient is not getting enough fluids this will happen the support worker will need to be recording what fluids the patient is getting, the support worker/ nurse should always be encouraging the patient to drink more if they are capable of doing it themselves if not they need to make sure to give the patient fluids.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of life, who is experiencing sore mouth/dry mouth
For the dying person this will more than likely occur there are different reasons for this happening it could be because of the type of medication that they are on, or depending on how much they are eating and drinking. If this is not detected early it can become very sore on the patient and could cause thrush happening. It is important to encourage fluids and to make sure that the patient oral hygiene is attended to try and prevent this from happening.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of their life, who is experiencing swallowing difficulties
Some patients may have problems swallowing depending on their needs and condition dysphagia is common in patients that might have had a stroke, MS, Parkinson’s, MND or a head injury. For patients with dysphagia the support worker must make sure that they have the correct amount of thick and easy in their food, and to have them sitting in the up-right position when they are assisting them with food, this will prevent choking or aspiration. The thick and easy will also make it easier for the patient to swallow. The support worker should always be observing, reporting and recording any changes the client is making.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person during the last days of their life, who is experiencing altered state of consciousness
When patient is in an altered state of consciousness it is important that the support worker makes sure that the patient is comfortable as possible, the carer should try and comfort the patient by holding their hand and talking to them let them know that they are not alone, it is also important that the family is involved in this they should come and stay with them any changes that occur in the patient should be reported back to the nurse.
The role of the support worker, in meeting the needs of the person with a syringe or medication patch
It is important that the medication patch is stuck on the body properly so that the pain relief can work correctly, the syringe should be check to make sure that it is not moved or falling out if either of these happen it could affect how the pain relief is working for the patient and they might not be able to express that they are feeling so much pain. The support worker needs to be always observing, reporting and recording if there are any changes or if either the syringe or medication patch is not on the body correctly or has moved. Use the range of skills required from a palliative support worker in relation to end of life care:
The diverse signs and symptoms that death is imminent
There is varies different signs that death is imminent. The support worker will be making sure that the patient is comfortable and observing any changes and reporting and recording any that occurs, she will be watching for signs of pain and reporting it back to the nurse so they can try and give the patient pain relief that they are not suffering in their last stage of life.
Some of these signs and symptoms would be:
• Coolness in tips in fingers and in the toes
• Increased physical weakness
• Mental confusion or disorientation
• Laboured breathing
• Social withdrawal
• Loss of appetite
Carry out duties after the person has died, in accordance with local workplace policy and in a way that is respectful to the deceased person and their belongings
You will need to inform the family and the next of kin. You will need to prepare the deceased body, to do this you will need to wash the body and put fresh clothes on, you will replace dentures if they had been removed before the patient passed away, place a pillow under the head for support and tidy the hair, it is important to make sure any equipment in the room is turned off and removed so as the room is tidy and peaceful for the family when entering to be with their loved one, any jewellery should be removed unless instructed not to be by the family and belongings should be given to the family.
The needs of specific vulnerable groups, in relation to death, dying and bereavement
• Children: a loved one passing can be difficult for children to come to terms with it is important that they are given bereavement counselling if it is needed this will help them to understand can to come to terms with what has happened. The carer should also show support to the child so as the child knows they are there if they need to talk.
• People with intellectual disabilities: it is important that someone with an intellectual difficulty is able to speak to a specialist/counsellor if they need to because it can be hard for them to understand the fact that a loved one has passed away.
People with mental health problems: should be brought to a counsellor if it is needed it can be hard for a person with mental health problems to understand completely what has happened and to come to terms with the fact that their loved one has passed away. You should show understanding and should give support to the person speak in a nice calm voice and listen to the person as they might be afraid or want to speak about any fears they are having.
Bibliography http://www.nhsiq.nhs.uk/media/2485900/duties_and_responsibilities_of_health_and_care_staff_-_with_prompts_for_practice.pdf http://www.focusing.org/klagsbrun.html https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/136442/EOLC_equality_assessment.pdf http://www.open.edu/openlearn/body-mind/health/nursing/the-importance-person-centred-approaches-nursing-care https://prezi.com/ml6_jtb5hu0u/principles-and-values-in-providing-holistic-support/ https://www.kingston.gov.uk/info/200136/funerals_cremations_and_cemeteries/338/carrying_out_the_arrangements_yourself_when_someone_has_died/2