Hospice Care

Research Paper # 99920

Canadian Studies
Medical and Health > Medical Studies
Medical and Health > Nursing
Medical and Health > Public Health Issues
Sociology > Welfare

Hospice Care

This paper discusses whether hospice care is the way to the future.

1,813 words () | 13 sources | APA | 2007 Canada

Paper Summary:

This paper seeks to better understand what hospice care entails in Canada. It reviews some of the barriers faced by patients, families and palliative nurses with end of life issues. It discusses how quality of care at the end of life has many significant issues. The writer notes that countless citizens who could benefit from palliative care do not receive it or obtain it during the last few days or weeks of their illness. The author touches on strategies for overcoming the existing barriers in community based hospice care as well as how nurses can be leaders in ensuring that appropriate palliative care is received.

From the Paper:

"Hospice care is not only for the patient; but for their family and friends as well. Emotional, spiritual, physical and social needs are addressed by the palliative team. Hospice provides tailored services in a caring community where patients and families attain the required groundwork for a death that is satisfactory to them. The nature of dying is one of a kind so that the goal of the hospice team is to be responsive and receptive to the special needs of each individual and family."
"Although hospice-palliative nurses bring expert knowledge and skills to the delivery of comprehensive and empathetic care to persons and families living with advanced illness, studies reveal that due to enormous barriers in end-of-life care in nursing homes and patients' residences, unnecessary suffering occurs at the bedside."

Sample of Sources Used:

Arnold. E.M., Artin, K.A., Person, J.L., Griffith, D.L. (2004). Consideration of hastening death among hospice patients and the families. J Pain Symptom Management. 27(6).
Bailey, M., Jennings, B., Ryndes, T., & D'Onofrio, C. (2003). Access to hospice care: expanding boundaries, overcoming barriers. The Hastings Centre Report. 33(2).
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2005). A New Era in Canadian Palliative and End-of-Life Care Research.
Emanuel, E., Fairclough, D.L., Wolfe, P., Emanuel, L.L. (2004). Talking with terminally ill patients and their caregivers about death, dying, and bereavement. Archives of Internal Medicine. 164(18).
Emanuel, E., Fairclough, D.L., Slutsman, J., Emanuel., L.L. (2000). Understanding economic and other burdens of terminal illness: the experience of patients and their caregivers. Annual Internal Medicine. 132:451.