Essence of Palliative Care
This package is an important introduction to all packages. It defines palliative care and end of life care and discusses the palliative approach to care that is the underpinning philosophy of care for people with a life limiting condition.
Ethics Issues in Palliative Care
Ethical issues occur in end of life care, but with the right skills and decision making processes staff will be enabled to assist people, and families and whaˉnau, in the best way possible.
Communication Skills
We all communicate every day, but how often do we think about the impact that communication has on those around us? In this session we will explore how we communicate and what can cause challenges as we communicate with people, families and whānau and other members of the team.
Pain & Symptom Management
People with advanced disease may experience symptoms which will have a significant impact on their quality of life. In this session we will discuss the impeccable assessment of symptoms, careful planning and management of care, and on-going evaluation.
Palliative Care for People with Chronic Illness
People live with advanced disease that impacts on their quality of life. In recent years there has been a greater recognition of the needs of people with chronic conditions other than cancer. This session looks at the challenges for people with advanced chronic illness and ways to improve their quality of life.
Palliative Care for People with Dementia
People may live with dementia for many years and the needs of these people require special attention and a palliative approach throughout their disease trajectory. Staff will learn skills in the holistic assessment of pain and symptoms in end stage dementia, how to minimise the burdens and strain experienced by family/carers and decision making skills in end of life care.
Loss & Grief
Although death is inevitable as a society we are still death denying. In our work we face death and grief often and the importance of the care we give at the end of life, and after death, will be explored during this session. We also look at our own grief and the importance of self care.
Introduction to Spiritual Care
All staff have the potential to offer spiritual care. Each meeting with a person with a life limiting condition offers a chance to attend to the spiritual needs of that person; the need to be treated with dignity, the need to be “heard” and the need to have any spiritual distress noticed and addressed appropriately. This session is an introduction to how to meet the spiritual needs of the people for whom we care.
Last Days of Life
Inevitably people will die and care provided during the last days and hours of life has profound effects on people, and their family and whānau and on the care team. We have only one chance to get it right, this session will assist staff in developing the skills to make those last hours result in more positive memories for family.
Caring for Ourselves
Those in the caring professions are compassionate and caring individuals working with people who are suffering. Therefore, they are at risk of stress and burnout. This session is designed to provide staff with time to reflect on their wellness and look at ways to maintain it.
