Skilled Communication with Seriously Ill Patients is Both Crucial and Learnable, Experts say Clinicians who receive training report increased confidence in their care delivery High-quality communication is a critical factor in the care of seriously ill patients, as it enables patients and their families to understand the illness and participate …
Palliative Care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) can improve quality of life for patients with a serious illness and provide much-needed support to family members. However, the majority of adults in America are not aware of, nor do they understand, the goals and benefits of palliative care.
If you are caring for someone with dementia, you are not alone. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that more than 16 millions Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. As a caregiver to someone with dementia, the goal is to keep the person safe, calm, …
Palliative care could reduce societal health care costs by $103 billion within the next 20 years, the nonprofit economic research group Florida TaxWatch said in a report. The group recommended that policymakers take action to expand palliative care utilization in the state. Palliative care in general can reduce health care …
By Hilary Decent Katherine Coutrakon finds inspiration in the darkest of places. You might even say death becomes her. As a licensed clinical social worker with almost 40 years’ experience, she helps the terminally ill in their weeks and also grieving families. The experiences have taught her a lot, she …
Chronic pain is emerging as a major health concern. It has negative impacts on patients, their families, and society as a whole. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that chronic pain leads to $560 billion each year in direct medical costs, lost productivity, and disability programs. In …
The way each person handles the loss of a loved one is unique to that individual. The way someone handles grief in terms of symptoms depends on him or herself as well, but a disturbance in sleep is common. Nights of restlessness and tossing and turning with eyes wide awake …
Stapely Care Home in Liverpool, England, is trialling a scheme where exercise bikes and videos are used to enable residents living with dementia to go on virtual cycling trips to locations around the world. Staff say the project, which originated in Norway, has boosted wellbeing and happiness. This 2-minute video …
If you are elderly and living alone, or a time-consumed caregiver for someone with a serious illness, you may find yourself removed from day-to-day interactions with others, leaving you feeling especially secluded and lonely. “People who are chronically lacking in social contacts are more likely to experience elevated levels of …
The answer might seem simple, but in the hands of Lesley Hazleton, the question takes us on a surprisingly humorous and thought-provoking journey into what it would actually mean to live forever. And whether we’d truly want to. A frequent TED.com speaker and ‘Accidental Theologist,’ Hazleton uses wit and wisdom …
