Learning modules

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.

The PCC4U Project is led by Queensland University of Technology in collaboration with Queensland Government, Flinders University and Curtin University of Technology. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health.