Assesment of Needs-Developing a Care Plan

admin — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:29:51 +0000

Hello dear friends throughout the world.

When people are suddenly disabled, hospitalized or entering a care facility, they are often subjected to something called an assessment. The care providers make a list of what the patient can and cannot do, have or eat/ This group of "professionals" frequently meet around a conference room table piled high with manila folders and sticky notes. Lots of coffee and donuts because making these decisions require stamina to run through the "cases" and make decisions about what will make life easier, hopefully for the patient and certainly for the staff.

Who Is In Charge Of My Life

If I sound a little cynical about others making judgment or assessments about a patient without input from the patient, it is because I am. I was sitting in my mother's end of life room visiting when the director stopped by to tell us that they had done an assessment and this would be the plan of care from now on.

I was livid that our input was not asked for nor included in how my mother would be allowed to spend the rest of her life. I was her advocate, daughter and fairly smart woman but was not invited to the conference room to hear the discussion. Nor was I asked by them for my opinion on what things she could do and had done in the past.

Asses Strengths not Weakness

What a difference it would have made had the director, social worker, nurse or advocate ask Mom what she wanted. The most ridiculous thing "the professionals" decided was that if she played cards daily it would strengthen her hands. Mom hated playing cards and had no patience for board games, and had for the last 91 years. She would have cared for the green plants or done hand exercises with me, not "some 12 year old kid who won't be here tomorrow" as she called the constant flux of CNA's.

Empower Yourself and Loved One to Make Decisions

By focusing on what you can and want to do, you communicate to others, that you are in control of your life. Help your loved one make a list of inner resources, likes and dislikes and areas of strengths. The more choices any of us have in life and approaching death, the less stress we have.

Certainly there are activities that are no longer possible, but if the interest is there, perhaps the patient can adapt or find a way to still maintain some control over choices about their care.

Good Luck, You do an Important Work in Bringing Dignity and Choice

With Love,

Judy H. Wright aka Auntie Artichoke, family relationship author and speaker

http://www.ArtichokePress.com

What is Palliative Care?

admin — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:35:02 +0000

Hello friends from all over the world.

End-of-life
care is commonly referred to as palliative care. This care is usually done by a
team of healthcare professionals, as well as the patient’s family. It focuses on management of physical symptoms
and emotional support to both the family and the patient.

Usually the over riding
goal of palliative care is caring for patients, rather than curing an illness,
if there has been a terminal diagnosis. Choosing palliative care does not mean
that patients must stop seeking a cure for their condition.

As death becomes more
imminent, attempts to cure the disease taper off, while palliative care
measures increase.

We encourage families and
care givers to continue acting as advocates for their loved one, to ensure that
their needs and wishes are being met and respected.

Please know that where ever you are today and what ever you may be going through, I am holding you in my thoughts and prayers. You are not alone.

Love, Judy H. Wright

When Death Is Near » end of life

Assesment of Needs-Developing a Care Plan

What is Palliative Care?