The complexity of loss and grief is something many are never fully prepared for. Understanding how grief manifests and coping strategies for dealing with life-changing circumstances are just some of the benefits of palliative care education.
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure. Most palliative care units provide care during the last months or weeks of life, but some acute palliative care units are set up for short stays to manage symptoms.
However, now more than ever, palliative care education also emphasizes the self-care of caregivers. Providing care to people with serious illnesses can be emotionally and physically demanding, and tools to address the challenges associated with serious illnesses are needed.
Starting in October, monthly virtual workshops on palliative care are offered to family members and caregivers whose loved ones reside in a long-term care facility.
The Ontario Centers for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) launched the training sessions in response to growing demand for a better understanding of a palliative approach to care, which is now a mandatory requirement under the Fixing Long-Term Care program. Take action in Ontario.
Andréa Katz, project coordinator at the Ontario Centers for Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care in Bruyère, said the virtual workshops are led by experienced professionals who support long-term care residents and families duration for many years.
“Our educational series aims to dispel these misconceptions, fostering a new perspective on palliative care and fostering alignment between families and care teams, thereby improving resident well-being,” she said .
Families of long-term care residents often harbor outdated perceptions of palliative care, believing that it is only for people at the end of life, is limited to people with cancer, or is associated with a lack of hope, Katz said.
However, current research reveals that early implementation of palliative care after receiving a life-limiting diagnosis can lead to more effective planning for the period ahead, reduced stress and improved quality of life.
Many families are unaware of these potential benefits, which can lead to resistance to adopting palliative strategies,” she said.
“In our first round, we engaged families from 30 households across the province,” Katz said.
“The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and we heard details such as ‘This training session helped me feel more comfortable discussing grief and bereavement with others’ (96 percent) and ‘ This session made me discover new tools to take care of myself” (91 percent). . We also learned that participants found the breakout session to be an effective way to share with others, which is why we’re adding more in this year’s series.
Monthly topics are: the palliative approach to care, navigating and advocating for long-term care, talking about medications, advance care planning and goals of care conversations, grief and bereavement, and finally taking care of yourself .
The theme “Palliative Approach to Care” took place in October, and the second session will take place on November 30 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on “Navigating and Advocating for LTC Care.”
Katz said the third session will focus on “Talking About Medications” and noted the presenter will be a pharmacist from the Institute for Better Health. Representatives from Family Councils Ontario will help organize meeting rooms, she said.
Although the meetings are not recorded, those who attend will receive a PDF of the slideshow and a related handout on each month’s topic, Katz said. Each session is 90 minutes long and will provide time to connect with other care partners to learn from their experiences in addition to the masterful presentation.
As Katz explains, the importance of palliative care education is important for many compelling reasons. Palliative care education dispels common misconceptions surrounding palliative care, such as that it is associated exclusively with end-of-life care, neglecting its broader scope that encompasses improving the quality of life of people with palliative care. serious illnesses at any time.
“Community education promotes a more nuanced understanding of palliative care, thereby encouraging timely access to its benefits,” Katz said.
Second, palliative care education facilitates advance care planning. Katz noted that it is essential to encourage individuals to think about and communicate their health care preferences at any point in life.
“This proactive approach ensures that individuals receive care aligned with their values and goals, contributing to a more dignified and person-centered healthcare experience,” she said.
“Additionally, palliative care training is essential for caregivers because it provides them with the knowledge and skills needed to provide comprehensive care. It ensures that families receive the support needed to navigate the challenges associated with serious illness, fostering a compassionate and informed care delivery environment.
Ending with a reminder that caregivers need to take care of themselves, Katz said palliative care education ensures caregivers are equipped with strategies to prevent burnout, promote their own well-being and, therefore, maintaining the quality of care provided to those who need it.
“Palliative care education is crucial to the community because it corrects misconceptions, improves the quality of life of people with serious illnesses and their loved ones, supports individuals in their grief journey, provides essential assistance to families and promotes self-care among caregivers. A well-informed community is better prepared to provide compassionate and effective support and care to people facing serious illnesses and their families,” she said.
For any questions regarding the training session series, please contact collaborativeproject@bruyere.org.
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