Inpatient Palliative Care Family Caregiver

1
Inpatient Palliative Care Family Caregiver
Your logo here

• Group Education Session

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
2
The main goal of the session
Your logo here
The main goal of this education session is to
provide you with strategies and resources that
will allow you to best support your family member
and take better care of yourself.
Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
3
The guidelines for our group
Your logo here

• Limitations of a one-off education session
• Not a counselling session
• Respect each others unique experience and values
• Privacy is also respected no obligation to
  share
• Confidentiality is observed
• Feel free to take time out if you are feeling
  upset
• Questions are invited at the end of each topic
  (or later in a suitable setting)

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
4
Introductions
Your logo here

• Please briefly introduce yourself to the group
• E.g. first name, relationship of the person you
  are caring for and what you like to do in your
  spare time (when you have some)

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
5
Overview of the session
Your logo here
To inform primary family carers about 1. What
is palliative care? 2. The typical role of a
family carer 3. Support services available 4.
Preparing for the future 5. Self-care strategies
for optimal wellbeing
Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
6
Getting started
Your logo here
Describe your biggest current challenge or
concern related to your caring role
Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
7
The Carer Kit
Your logo here

• Palliative care service brochures
• A guidebook
• A copy of todays presentation
• A relaxation CD (Commonwealth DoHA)
• Fact sheets on reducing stress and sleeping
  well

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
8
Topic One What is palliative care?
Your logo here
Objective To inform family carers about
palliative care
Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
9
What is palliative care?
Your logo here

• Aims to help people with a life-threatening
  illness
• Family-centred support
• Symptom management
• End of life care
• Psychological, social and spiritual care
• Bereavement support
• Refer to page 9 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
10
Topic Two The typical role of a family carer
Your logo here
Objective To explore the typical role of a
family carer when a family member is an
in-patient receiving palliative care
Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
11
Who is a carer?
Your logo here

• Someone giving support to a person who is unwell
  
• Carers can be a
• Relative
• Spouse
• Friend
• Refer to page 7 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
12
What do carers do?
Your logo here

• Emotional care listening and being there
• Practical care meals, medications, bathing,
  transporting to medical appointments
• It depends on what you feel comfortable doing
• If you are unsure, ask a nurse
• Refer to page 9 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
13
Typical reactions when a relative requires
palliative care
Your logo here

• Can I do this? And for how long?
• What skills do I need?
• Who can help me?
• What can I expect?
• What resources are available?
• Refer to page 7 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
14
My options as a carer
Your logo here

• Access information to assist in care
• Seek financial help
• Say no to things you are uncomfortable with
• Access additional support e.g. house cleaning,
  meals on wheels, interpreter services, extra
  nursing input etc.
• Seek further opinions
• Refer to page 12 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
15
Topic Three Support services available
Your logo here
Objective To inform family carers on the
services available within the in-patient unit and
the support services and resources available
within the community.
Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
16
Support services available
Your logo here

• Services available within the inpatient
  palliative care unit
• Services and resources within the community

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
17
Resources available
Your logo here

• GP
• Palliative Care Australia www.pallcare.org.au
• Support groups
• Local council
• Carers Resource Centre 1800 242 636
• Carer Respite Centres 1800 059 059
• Refer to pages 9-12 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
18
Other services
Your logo here

• Health professionals (dietician, naturopath etc.)
• Alternative and complementary therapies
• Private nursing agencies
• Private food services
• Refer to page 27 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
19
Legal matters and other practical thingsto
consider
Your logo here

• Preparing a will
• Power of Attorney
• Advanced care decisions
• Funeral arrangements
• Financial matters
• Carer payment
• Refer to pages 32-33 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
20
Topic Four Preparing for the future
Your logo here
Objective To inform family carers about 1.
potential future site-of-care options and 2.
what to expect when a person is approaching death
Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
21
Tom and Mary
Your logo here
Tom is 69 and has lung cancer. All active
treatment has stopped and Tom is receiving
palliative care at the local palliative care
unit. He is sleeping a lot and his appetite has
decreased. The staff say he is declining and may
only have a week or two to live. Tom wants to go
home.
Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
22
Tom and Mary
Your logo here
Mary is 65 and is Toms wife of 42 years. They
have two children together and three
grandchildren. Mary has been involved in caring
for Tom for over a year. It is hard work and she
is tired. Now, Tom requires more care from her
than when he went in to hospital (to have his
pain medication reviewed). She is concerned
about him coming home.
Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
23
Tom and Mary
Your logo here

• What do you think Marys concerns are about Tom
  coming home?
• What might Toms concerns be about staying in the
  hospital?
• What might be some possible compromises or
  solutions?

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
24
Potential options
Your logo here

• Explore additional options for home care and
  resources available
• Family meeting to explore and obtain information
• Explore alternatives to care at home inpatient
  palliative care unit, hospital, residential aged
  care facilities
• Refer to pages 29-32 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
25
Typical signs when death seems near
Your logo here

• Large portions of time in bed
• Unable to move from bed or chair without help
• Difficulty swallowing solid food
• Not talking much
• Occasional confusion
• Restlessness
• Changes in breathing
• Refer to p. 47 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
26
When death occurs recognising death
Your logo here

• If in hospital
• let a health professional know
• If at home
• there is no rush to do everything
• Inform close relatives
• Call the palliative care service and they can
  assist you in taking the next steps
• Doctor/GP needs to be contacted to arrange death
  certificate
• Refer to pages 52-53 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
27
How might I feel after the death
Your logo here

• You may feel
• Sadness
• Distress
• Shock
• Anger
• Resentment
• Physical symptoms ie. shaking, trembling,
  hot/cold or both, calmness, palpitations,
  fatigue, hear noises or have vivid dreams
• Refer to pp.53-54 of the guidebook

• Relief
• Guilt
• Disorientation
• Pre-occupation

• Yearning
• Fear
• Anxiety
• Numbness

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
28
Bereavement support
Your logo here

• Everyone experiences grief differently
• Its okay to seek support at any time
• Contact the bereavement counselling service or
  your GP for support
• Refer to page 54 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
29
Topic Five Self-care strategies to promote
optimal wellbeing
Your logo here
Objective To inform family carers of the impact
of being a carer and to discuss strategies for
how family carers can look after themselves at
this time
Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
30
Impact on you
Your logo here

• Being a carer can be challenging
• Some carers feel as though they get little time
  for themselves and may get quite tired
• Some carers feel overwhelmed
• It can be physically and emotionally draining
• The demands of caring can cause stress
• Refer to pages 15-16 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
31
The positive aspects of caring
Your logo here

• Remind yourself
• Your support is helping your relative
• There are people to help you
• You are doing the best you can
• You can arrange to do something that makes you
  feel good
• Refer to page 16 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
32
Caring for yourself
Your logo here

• Get some exercise
• Get enough sleep
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Do something for yourself every day
• Accept help
• Juggling needs for you and for your relative
• Refer to pages 35-38 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
33
Caring for your relationships
Your logo here

• Keep communication open and honest
• Humour look for the funny side of things where
  possible
• Work at things together
• Consider showing the book Supporting a person
  who needs palliative care to your relative
• Refer to pages 38-40 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
34
Time to relax!
Your logo here

• Plan to do something enjoyable
• Talk to someone you feel comfortable with
• Look for the positives
• Take a break from the caring role
• Perform relaxation exercise
• Refer to pages 40-42 of the guidebook

Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
35
And lastly
Your logo here
The palliative care teams aim is to support
you Questions?
Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
36
Contact details
Phone [phone] Fax [phone]
3919 Email centreforpallcare_at_svhm.org.au Web www.c
entreforpallcare.org PO Box 2900, Fitzroy VIC
3065 Australia 6 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy VIC
3065 Australia
Funding for this project was provided by the
NHMRC Palliative Care Research Grants Round 3,
No. 447713.
Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia
37
Your logo here
Contact details
Phone Email Web Address line 1 Address line 2
Funding for this project was provided by the
NHMRC Palliative Care Research Grants Round 3,
No. 447713.
Part of St Vincents Hospital and a Collaborative
Centre of The University of Melbourne, Australia