Culture significantly influences end-of-life care decision-making.
Palliative Care:
Purpose: Manages symptoms to improve quality of life for patients.
Emotional Support in End-of-Life Care
Importance of Emotional Connection:
It is considered acceptable to share laughter with patients as a means of emotional support.
Handling Grief and Loss
Patient's Reaction to Loss:
If a patient expresses that they do not wish to live without a recently deceased spouse, the first step is to acknowledge their feelings.
Clinician should ask questions to understand what the patient misses about their spouse.
Reflection on Life Choices
Addressing Regrets:
When a patient states they wish they had chosen a different career path, clinicians should prompt them to elaborate on their feelings regarding this desire.
Support for Grieving Patients
Patient Expressing Grief:
If a patient is focused on a recently lost loved one, the caregiver should provide comfort and establish a supportive presence.
Transitioning from Employment
Discussing Retirement with Patients:
Clinicians should consider asking open-ended questions to encourage patients to share their feelings about retirement and previous employment.
Exam Preparation Notes
Forewarning about Appeals:
Certain exam questions, specifically question 24 and question 29, may require appeals, as they were not adequately covered in the teaching material.
The instructor recognizes that certain content was not referenced in textbooks or slides.
Patient Motivation to Engage in Rehabilitation
Unmotivated Patients:
When patients show a lack of desire for rehabilitation, it may indicate a decreased sense of purpose in their lives.
Therapy in Adult Day Care Setting
Restrictions on Therapy:
Therapy is not permitted in adult day care environments.
Goals of Rehabilitation
Priority Goal:
The primary objective of rehabilitation is to maintain the highest level of functionality for the patients.
Post-Rehabilitation Home Transition
Considerations for Discharge:
When preparing for a patient's transition back home, factors to consider include:
Safety in the living environment
Presence of a reliable support system
Specific hazards that can lead to falls:
Loose rugs, uneven flooring, stairs
Clutter in living spaces
Pets as potential obstacles
Nutrition and Meal Preparation
Addressing Food Insecurity:
If a patient frequently takes home leftover food from community lunches, it may signify food insecurity.
Clinicians should consider discussing potential additional resources with the patient's family.
Grief Process
Individual Variation in Grief:
The grieving process is not uniform; individuals may experience it differently.
Relocation Stress Syndrome
Adjustment Assistance:
To assist patients experiencing relocation stress syndrome, clinicians should personalize their environment by bringing familiar items such as photographs.
Rehabilitation Following a Stroke
Assessment of Patient Safety:
Post-stroke, consider activities to improve safety, while ensuring that daily living activities (ADLs) are supported by appropriate personnel (e.g., PT for physical rehabilitation).
Shifts in Daily Routine for Patients
Handling Altered Schedules:
If a patient sleeps through breakfast due to a prior night shift schedule, provide an alternative meal upon waking rather than forcing breakfast at regular hours.
Impacts of Physiological Changes on Therapy
Therapy after Stroke:
Physiological changes can affect patient progress in rehabilitation.
Open Forum for Questions
The instructor invites further questions and clarifications on all topics discussed during the session.