Palliative Care

Despite antibiotic treatment, physiotherapy and changes to medications, Mrs Doherty’s health continues to be poor with progression of her renal failure and difficulties managing her shortness of breath. It is unlikely that she will recover and be well enough to return home. You feel that this illness is likely to be terminal.

Eight of the following statements about palliative care are true. Can you identify which ones they are?

Drag each statement you feel is true over in to the correct answer column. Correct responses will turn green, and incorrect, red.

 

 

Objects to move

  • Palliative care is specialist care for all people living with or dying from a terminal condition
  • Palliative care aims to achieve the best possible quality of life for the individual patient, their carers and family
  • Palliative care is provided to people of all ages who have an illness that cannot be cured
  • Palliative care focuses on the needs of patients only
  • Palliative care is provided by many different health professionals
  • Palliative care is only available to people 65 years and over
  • Palliative care neither hastens nor postpones death
  • Palliative care integrates the physical, psychological, social, emotional and spiritual aspects of care
  • The focus of palliative care is only on providing relief from pain and other distressing symptoms so that people are comfortable as they are dying
  • Palliative care offers a support system to help people live as actively as possible until death
  • Palliative care is appropriate at the end stage of a terminal illness, in order to hasten death
  • Palliative care offers a support system to help the family cope during the person’s illness and during their bereavement

Correct Answers