Recently, a wife shared a concern regarding her husband’s chronic headaches and suffering with end stage dementia. At times he didn’t recognize her. She believed that his physicians were fearful to treat the headaches and make the dementia worse. I shared information about a resource that few know much about: Palliative Care.
Palliative Care resides within the Hospice system. Most people are fearful of Hospice as a last resort. However, palliative care is incredibly helpful for people suffering from chronic pain, disability, or dementia in the last chapter of their life. A nurse visits the patient monthly to review medications and treatments with the goal to relieve pain and suffering. Generally, a physician is involved in the treatment as well.
Personally, we utilized palliative care for a year before my mom went to Heaven. Mom was in an assisted living environment receiving excellent care. But she had moments of severe agitation, which raised her blood pressure to dangerous levels. She refused to take any meds to help lower it and calm her down.
The palliative nurse provided ideas that allowed for a much better quality of life. The staff could apply a small dose of a tranquilizer to her skin during the agitated moments. The probiotic Kefir milk helped to reduce her chronic diarrhea. During a mentally clear moment, a discussion was held with Mom and my siblings regarding her wishes if her condition deteriorated.
She fell at 4 am resulting in a serious hip fracture. The Palliative nurse was at the center when I arrived. Mom was still on the floor awaiting the ambulance.
Astoundingly, Mom had a moment of clarity and refused the surgery. As a retired nurse, she knew how difficult it would have been with her compromised, frail condition and asked for Hospice instead. Her wishes were granted, and the nurse remained with us while she was transferred to the Hospice center.
Finally, the wife (first story) contacted the local palliative team and was comforted that there was a solution for her husband’s terrible chronic headaches while he remained at home under his family’s tender care. The nurse will visit him monthly to ensure that he is comfortable in this last chapter of his life.
With an aging population we will experience more situations like these. You can contact your local Palliative/Hospice center or Alzheimer’s Association for more information. Call your local church to find out about pastoral home visits that share the true peace of Jesus that passes all understanding. God bless you all.
We cannot change the outcome, but we can affect the journey. Ann Richardson
Reference: Palliative Care. Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/palliative%20care.
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ã All rights reserved 2023, Jennie E. Johnson, RN-BC, PhD
Author of:
Wake Up Call 911: It’s Time to Reduce your Risk for a Heart Attack and Stroke (2015)
Helping the Hurting: Nursing Ministry in the Body of Christ (2022)
Paperback copies of both books for sale. Email me for details at: ask@jenniejohnsonrn.com.
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