4. Optimising function in palliative care

Maintenance of physical, psychological, and social functioning is important to ensure optimal quality of life for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Overview

Module 4: Optimising function in palliative care will help you develop your understanding of how to provide support for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families. In particular, it focuses on issues of loss, establishing goals of care, and understanding the effect of caregiving.

Aims & objectives

After completing this module, you should be able to:

• recognise the different responses and emotions of people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families
• discuss strategies for facilitating collaborative decision-making on care goals with people with life-limiting illnesses and their families
• identify interventions that will optimise physical, psychological and social function for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families
• analyse the effect of caregiving on the family networks of people with life-limiting illnesses
• recognise how your own values and beliefs about death and dying affect your responses and interactions with people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.