Pediatric Hospice Palliative Care in Canada
What is Pediatric Palliative Care “While the number of children requiring palliative care is small relative to adults, the impact of a child’s serious illness and death is extensive. It affects the family as well as the entire community. Moreover, the illnesses that affect children are quite distinct. Palliative care for children must comprehensively address […]
Caring for the dying is the easy part….
Time and again I have heard people say, “Caring for the dying is the easy part… It is caring for the family that is difficult”. I quote this, not to diminish the importance or the complexity in caring for the dying, or to criticize family and loved ones, but to identify how difficult the experience […]
Psychosocial support at end of life improves living – but you have to plan to make it happen
Recent research study releases information about what helps people end their lives as peacefully as possible. Dr Howard LeWine summarizes: “being at home instead of in the hospital not undergoing chemotherapy or other active cancer treatment not having a feeding tube talking with a chaplain or other minister, and spending time in private religious activity […]
Are we preparing our health care professionals to provide excellent care for the dying?
I used to think that all dying people should be registered with a hospice organization, receive Cadillac services, and die supported by the specialty care team. Over the past few years I have been intrigued by the work of Palliative Care Australia (PCA). PCA suggests that the majority of the dying can and will be […]
