Those nurses didn't behave in a professional manner. Like Fallcon (described upthread) your MiL had people beside her to advocate on her behalf. I'm glad you were there for her.
Are you sure that what you've described was palliative care? To me, it sounds like geriatric care. She was old but she wasn't terminally ill.
I know what my MIL had wasn't "palliative" care in the strict sense of the term. My story was meant to illustrate the idea that, in this country, we're so fixated on going "by the book" regarding treatment and medication dosage, there's very little incentive to even try to engage critical thinking skills--if "the book" says my MIL is "too old" for heavy sedation, obviously, she can't have it.
In much the same way, palliative care in this country is a disgrace, as I said, because there's so much fear that *gasp* the terminal patient might actually become addicted to their pain meds, we have to give them a weak dose. When they become tolerant, we can't increase the dose "because it might kill them". Nevermind that the patient's already dying. They don't deserve to suffer because the medical establishment in this country is afraid of turning terminal patients into "drug seekers".
We run courses in our local hospice ( art and life stories and " creating memories". a course which helps people to make a memory box to leave behind). Those courses are full of friendship and laughter... and tears sometimes of course.
And it's not all about terminal illness The hospice has day sessions for people with long term conditions, sessions for relatives, a special club called " Nicky's Way" for children who have lost or are facing the loss of parents or siblings.. a sensory garden, an outreach programme, support for the bereaved, training for care givers and other professionals on talking about and helping people to prepare for death and on coping with loss and grief.
Whilst a student nurse, I had the privilege of nursing three patients on the Liverpool care pathway. Thanks to syringe drivers (marvellous invention) and good multidisciplinary team working these patients got to spend their final days/weeks at home with their families. It's something I will always remember.
Interestingly, most of the thank you cards received by the team (district nurses) I was on placement with were for support given around a death. It's really frustrating to read the sensationalist tabloid polemic concerning the care pathway. If I found out I was dying I would opt for it without hesitation.
Thank you. After what you've said, I don't feel qualified to write a review of that website (and I have some work deadlines to meet). So for the time being, I'll leave the subject of LCP open for you or anybody else to write about.
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Are you sure that what you've described was palliative care? To me, it sounds like geriatric care. She was old but she wasn't terminally ill.
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In much the same way, palliative care in this country is a disgrace, as I said, because there's so much fear that *gasp* the terminal patient might actually become addicted to their pain meds, we have to give them a weak dose. When they become tolerant, we can't increase the dose "because it might kill them". Nevermind that the patient's already dying. They don't deserve to suffer because the medical establishment in this country is afraid of turning terminal patients into "drug seekers".
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And it's not all about terminal illness The hospice has day sessions for people with long term conditions, sessions for relatives, a special club called " Nicky's Way" for children who have lost or are facing the loss of parents or siblings.. a sensory garden, an outreach programme, support for the bereaved, training for care givers and other professionals on talking about and helping people to prepare for death and on coping with loss and grief.
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Interestingly, most of the thank you cards received by the team (district nurses) I was on placement with were for support given around a death. It's really frustrating to read the sensationalist tabloid polemic concerning the care pathway. If I found out I was dying I would opt for it without hesitation.
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Provides plenty of links to other information sources. Marie Curie is particularly good.
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