Palliative Care Support

Guides you through the principles of palliative care, enabling you to apply these principles to your practice and reflect on and evaluate the palliative care you provide

Details the roles of the health care assistant (HCA) within the multidisciplinary team (MDT) in providing collaborative, quality palliative care to patients and their families

Examines the need for holistic palliative care services across the lifespan and, in particular, for common chronic illness

Illustrates how the HCA can promote activities of daily living as part of an agreed person-centred palliative care plan, to support life quality, self-esteem, respect, privacy and dignity

Defines pain, and its symptoms, assessment and management, to include both pharmacological and non-pharmacological relief from pain

Describes the common symptoms experienced by patients receiving end-of-life care and how prompt assessment and appropriate management of these can improve quality of life

Introduces spirituality within the context of palliative care and presents practical information to provide a meaningful contribution to the welfare, values and beliefs of the patient

Explains how effective communication between the HCA, MDT, the patient and their family is essential to the delivery of quality and compassionate palliative care

Explores some ethical issues that may be encountered in your role of HCA

Presents dying as a normal process and, using evidence-based theories and models, reveals the many responses to bereavement and the varying supports required to manage and cope with the bereavement process.