Week 4 - Palliative Care

Question 1

list potential care needs and equipment requirements of a person receiving palliative care in terminal phase of illness

Answer 1

• temporary aids and home modification
• changing self care potential
• managing a changing/deteriorating body
• emotional needs
• coping skills

Question 2

describe collusion

Answer 2

patient or family trying to engage OT to withhold information from patient due to belief that they will deteriorate

Question 3

funding sources for in home / carer support

Answer 3

• centrelink carer payments

- palliative care grants for services to purchase equipment and fit out hospital rooms for palliative needs

Question 4

SPIKES strategy for communicating bad news

Answer 4

Setting
Perception
Invitation (do they want to know disease progression)
Knowledge (let them know that there is bad news)
Empathy
Strategy and Summary

Question 5

what principles underpin palliative care as a rehabilitation approach

Answer 5

• rehabilitation
• enablement
• self management
• self care

holistic model, working collaboratively to achieve goals with emphasis on autonomy

Question 6

what is palliative care

Answer 6

an approach that improves QOL of patients and families facing problems associated with life threatening illness, through prevention and relief of suffering

Question 7

what services does palliative care provide

Answer 7

• relief from pain
• affirm life
• intends to neither hasten or postpone death
• support system for patients and family
• applicable in early course of illness in conjunction with other therapies intended to prolong life e.g. chemo

Question 8

what is the role of OT in palliative care

Answer 8

• maximise independence
• continual redefining of roles
• managing fatigue
• support participation
• assess capacity for independent living
• home assessment
• carer education

Question 9

what to consider when selecting an assessment in palliative care

Answer 9

• brief and targeted

- joint assessment to manage fatigue e.g. physio