avatarEdward Swafford

Summary

Palliative care is portrayed as a compassionate and dignified approach to end-of-life care, focusing on comfort and support for the elderly.

Abstract

The article "Palliative Care is not Scary" emphasizes that palliative care is a crucial and humane aspect of elderly care, particularly in nursing homes. It is described as the final chapter in life, where the goal is to ensure that individuals facing the end of their lives do so with minimal pain and fear. The process involves not only the administration of appropriate medications but also emotional support, such as holding hands, massaging fragile skin, and maintaining dignity through continence care. The piece underscores the sacred duty of aged care nurses to accompany individuals until the end, providing comfort and the assurance of a peaceful transition. The narrative suggests that palliative care liberates individuals from the confines of their ailing bodies, allowing them to 'fly' free from suffering.

Opinions

  • Palliative care is seen as a sacred part of nursing, involving a compassionate approach to guiding the elderly through their final days.
  • Death is not feared in palliative care; it is viewed as a natural part of the cycle of life that nurses embrace and prepare for with their patients.
  • The article conveys a strong sense of duty and respect for the dignity of those in palliative care, emphasizing the importance of maintaining their comfort and humanity.
  • The author expresses that providing palliative care is about more than medical treatment; it's about being present, offering emotional support, and ensuring a fearless and pain-free end-of-life experience.
  • There is an underlying belief that palliative care allows individuals to transcend their physical limitations and find peace, suggesting a spiritual dimension to the care provided.

LIFE

Palliative Care is not Scary

It’s a time to prepare people to fly

Photo by Harry cao on Unsplash

Once an elderly person nears the end of their nursing home experience, and the maladies of time and illness diminish their quality of life, palliative care is the last chapter.

Caring for a person who’s lived long, guiding them to meet their dawn in a pain-free, fearless way (with appropriately prescribed and administered medications) is the most sacred part of my job.

Death isn’t something to be feared in palliative care - it’s an entity aged care nurses embrace.

We sit beside them until midnight and beyond. We hold their hand and gently massage moisturizer over their fragile skin. We change their continence aides to afford them the dignity they deserve.

We talk to them when they can no longer speak as they leave the hell that’s become their body. Imprisoned no more they’re free to fly.

Thank you for reading.

Life
Life Lessons
Nursing
Aged Care
The Shortform
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