1

Bradford & Airedale Palliative Care

Who Cares for the Carers –

Who cares for you?

2

WHO Definition of Palliative Carehttp://www.who.int/cancer/palliative/definition/en/

retrieved 19th Oct 2010

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their

families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the

prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable

assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial

and spiritual.

3

provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms

affirms life and regards dying as a normal process

intends neither to hasten or postpone death

integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care

offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death

offers a support system to help the family cope during the patients illness and in their own bereavement

4

uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families, including bereavement counselling, if indicated

will enhance quality of life, and may also positively influence the course of illness

is applicable early in the course of illness, in conjunction with other therapies that are intended to prolong life, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and includes those investigations needed to better understand and manage distressing clinical complications

5

Cruse Bereavement Care

Cruse Bereavement Care exists to promote the well being of anyone bereaved by death and to enable

bereaved people to understand their grief and cope with their loss.

Whoever has died: whenever they died

6

We do this in a variety of ways 1:

• Individual bereavement support – children, adolescents, adults - “normal grief”

• Individual bereavement counselling - “complicated grief”

• Group support

• Telephone support

• Information

7

We do this in a variety of ways 2

• Initial & ongoing training for our volunteers

• Informing and lobbying government to include consideration of bereavement issues in policy making

• Resources, training and education services on bereavement issues for anyone – members of public; professionals; organisations

8

We do this in a variety of ways 3

• www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk

• www.rd4u.org.uk

• www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk/Military.html

9

Understanding grief: coping with loss 1

Understanding Grief

10

What is grief and what is it for?

• Grief encompasses a wide range of reactions– Behaviours– Physical sensations– Cognitions– Feelings

• Grieving is a normal life process—an adjustment reaction to a loss

11

Behaviours

• Sleep disturbance• Appetite disturbances• Absent-mindedness• Dreams/nightmares• Searching• Sighing/crying• Hyperactivity• Treasuring objects• Avoiding reminders

12

Physical sensations

• Hollowness in stomach

• Tightness in chest

• Tightness in throat

• Breathlessness

• Lack of energy

• Dry mouth

• Oversensitivity to noise

13

Cognitions

• Disbelief

• Confusion

• Preoccupation

• Sense of presence

• Hallucinations

14

FeelingsNumbness Worthlessness

Shock Guilt

Fear Yearning

Anxiety Tiredness / Exhaustion

Sadness Jealousy

Helplessness Relief

Anger Emancipation

Sense of depersonalisation (nothing seems real including self)

15

Understanding grief: coping with loss 2

Contemplating our own losses

16

Please draw a ring around any of the following losses you have experienced & add others that you can think of

Cat died Home broken into Purse/wallet stolen

Car accident Hamster died Loss of health

Children left home Grandmother died Friendship ended

Moved away from country of birth Failed exams Brother died

Loss of home Miscarriage Dog died

Leaving first home Child died Marriage

Good neighbour moved away Job lost Birth of a child

Depression Left a happy school Retirement

Had a relationship breakdown Credit card lost/stolen

Mother died Father died Broken limb Loss of faith

Moved away from place where grew up Sister died

Loss of financial security Friend died promotion at work

Partner died Parents divorced

Grandfather died Mobile phone lost/stolen

17

Understanding grief: coping with loss 3

Contemplating what helped

•What was helpful

•What was unhelpful

•How I helped myself

•What help was missing

18

Feedback from Exercise

19

In Conclusion

• Grieving is a normal life process—an adjustment reaction to a loss

• When we lose something or when someone dies, we experience some or all of the symptoms of grief – which can be behavioural, physical, psychological or emotional

• What helps is very individual and situation specific. Those of us who are carers need to remember to care for ourselves too

20

Remember:Give of your bucket not of your well

21

Bradford & Airedale Palliative Care

Who Cares for the Carers –

Who cares for you?