The model of care provided to families of patients treated in stationary hospice

Abstract

Cancer patients require specialist medical care and, frequently, round-the-clock involvement of the family which may exceed the caregivers’ coping ability. In such a situation, inpatient palliative/hospice care seems to be the best solution for everyone. The good mental and physical state of the family positively affects the quality of patient care, also provided in stationary care facilities. This article presents the methods of supporting families of patients, developed by an inpatient hospice team, which depend on the attitudes presented by families and are adjusted to their needs. Based on the discussions with families, three attitudes have been identified: an attitude dominated by fear, anxiety and depression, an attitude dominated by embarrassment and guilt, and an attitude dominated by self-interest, dealing and negotiation. Support for families begins with the interview qualifying the patients for the inpatient hospice, and it covers the period of waiting for admission, the patient’s stay in the hospice, including the period of dying and grieving the loss of a loved one. Such an approach is beneficial for patients and all those involved in the process of care; it promotes effective communication, lowers the level of negative emotions and, as a result, prevents conflicts and facilitates the focus on the patients’ needs.