Health News
Watching a loved one try to cope with debilitating pain can be agonizing. However, doing small things may make a big difference in his or her quality of life.
The focus of palliative care is placed on the ?caring? and not the ?curing? of an individual facing a life-limiting illness. Unlike hospice, people receiving comfort care do not always have terminal diseases. They may be living with a chronically painful condition.
?Unfortunately, pain management is too often overlooked when medical treatments are needed,? says Cathie Papantonio, coordinator of the Palliative Program at Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital. ?In our programs, we concentrate on easing pain, relieving stress and enhancing the quality of life for patients and residents.?
These aspects include:
One of the best ways to help someone in pain is to educate his or her family members. If they know what the side effects of pain treatment are, they can be more sensitive. Constant communication with residents, patients and their families is the key to helping them enjoy their days and evenings.
Creating space, privacy and a homelike environment relieves the pressure on family members and allows them to spend quality time with their loved ones. It?s also important to allow family members to help with direct care when they choose to and are able.
There is no norm when someone is in pain. Concentrating on what he or she desires should be constantly shifting. Monitoring the changes in pain levels is also vital.
Going beyond what is expected is also a way to help a person cope. Papantonio says that Levindale uses complementary therapies, such as massage, Reiki, yoga, music, art and aromatherapy when appropriate.
When a loved one, patient or resident is terminally ill, it is important to know what the person?s wishes are and to have them documented. End-of-life concerns, fears and expectations should be openly and honestly discussed in the context of religious, spiritual, social and cultural customs. Easing the physical and emotional pain of loved ones, residents and patients shows love and respect by family members and caregivers.
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Health News
Managing a Loved One's Pain
Watching a loved one try to cope with debilitating pain can be agonizing. However, doing small things may make a big difference in his or her quality of life.
The focus of palliative care is placed on the ?caring? and not the ?curing? of an individual facing a life-limiting illness. Unlike hospice, people receiving comfort care do not always have terminal diseases. They may be living with a chronically painful condition.
?Unfortunately, pain management is too often overlooked when medical treatments are needed,? says Cathie Papantonio, coordinator of the Palliative Program at Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital. ?In our programs, we concentrate on easing pain, relieving stress and enhancing the quality of life for patients and residents.?
These aspects include:
- Asking a person what he or she wants and actually listening to the answer. Many times we assume that we know what is best for someone, and act with out consulting him or her.
- Adapting activities a person has always enjoyed doing can take his or her mind off of pain, even for a short time. Be sensitive when the person wants to remain quiet.
- Creating a calm, relaxing environment can aid a person?s psychological well-being. You may turn the lights down low or having a lower wattage lamp in the room.
- Flowers are welcomed by some people, while others don?t care for the smell.
- Specific smells can also bring back good memories for people in distress. Aromatherapy gives those in pain the opportunity to choose certain scents that can be introduced into their rooms.
- Music can be an added soothing element when making people comfortable. It can remind them of happy occasions earlier in their lives or comfort them in the moment.
- Patients and residents are the focus of our efforts
- Anticipating their needs is most important and is done by
- Listening to what they want and by
- Serving them and their family members.
One of the best ways to help someone in pain is to educate his or her family members. If they know what the side effects of pain treatment are, they can be more sensitive. Constant communication with residents, patients and their families is the key to helping them enjoy their days and evenings.
Creating space, privacy and a homelike environment relieves the pressure on family members and allows them to spend quality time with their loved ones. It?s also important to allow family members to help with direct care when they choose to and are able.
There is no norm when someone is in pain. Concentrating on what he or she desires should be constantly shifting. Monitoring the changes in pain levels is also vital.
Going beyond what is expected is also a way to help a person cope. Papantonio says that Levindale uses complementary therapies, such as massage, Reiki, yoga, music, art and aromatherapy when appropriate.
When a loved one, patient or resident is terminally ill, it is important to know what the person?s wishes are and to have them documented. End-of-life concerns, fears and expectations should be openly and honestly discussed in the context of religious, spiritual, social and cultural customs. Easing the physical and emotional pain of loved ones, residents and patients shows love and respect by family members and caregivers.
- Prescription-painkiller Epidemic Is Spurred By Societal Shift, Experts Say: People Think Every Problem Has A Pill For An Answer
By Molly Burchett Kentucky Health News The prescription-painkiller epidemic stems partly from an evolution of society's views toward pain and how to deal with it, said experts at "The Different Faces of Substance Abuse" conference in Lexington Jan....
- Managing Cancer Pain
When you have an illness, pain management is important. That's especially true for cancer patients, who may experience pain from a tumor, a side effect of treatment, or from another cause. Luckily, the pain management specialists at LifeBridge Health...
- Lifebridge Health Recognizes The Importance Of Family Caregivers
When we were young, our parents read us our favorite stories, bandaged our scraped knees and cheered us on at soccer games. As we got older, they were there again for us when we needed a few extra bucks or the keys to the car. The story, however, doesn?t...
- Health Care Hero Finalist: Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center And Hospital
The Maryland Daily Record's Health Care Heroes awards ceremony honors special caregivers who exemplify extraordinary commitment to their profession. The breakfast to honor the 2010 finalists is on Wednesday, March 24, but before the big day we wanted...
- Easing Pain Requires Science And Art
Once considered nothing more than a symptom of a larger problem, pain today is acknowledged to be the so-called fifth vital sign. Doctors now believe pain is not only an indicator of a patient's health, but also a real impediment to full recovery....