It is the time of the year again when we indulge on food. The Christmas Holidays bring out the foodie in all of us, whether as a chef or as a food critic. Food is given as a gift, plays a central role in family and class reunions, and can make or break any gathering among friends and relatives. But is food and gastrointestinal nutrition also important for palliative and hospice patients?
Palliative and hospice care plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life of patients with life-limiting illnesses. This specialized form of care focuses on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, physical stress, and mental anguish associated with serious illnesses. While the concept of palliative and hospice care is gaining recognition worldwide, its understanding and implementation in the Philippines remains limited.
One of the most difficult services to find in the Philippines is the provision of Pediatric Palliative Care. While there is a growing recognition of its significance in the past decade, integrating Pediatric Palliative Care into the healthcare system and providing access to it needs to improve. There is a need for a specialized medical approach that provides comprehensive comfort and support to children with serious illnesses and their families. It is care that focuses on addressing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of children with life-threatening conditions. It emphasizes improving the quality of life for these patients through pain and symptom management, communication, and coordination of care. Goals of pediatric palliative care often include enhancing the child's comfort, ensuring shared decision-making, reducing hospital readmissions, and providing grief support to the family.
Pediatric Palliative Care must be employed throughout the continuum of care for children with serious illnesses, and it must be introduced early enough to enable better outcomes. It can actually be introduced at any stage of the illness and can be provided alongside curative treatments. Palliative care teams work collaboratively with medical professionals, parents, and other relevant individuals to develop an integrated care plan tailored to the child's unique needs. Services may include pain management, psychosocial support, skilled nursing care, respite care, bereavement support, and counseling.
The improved health outcomes of Pediatric Palliative Care are due to its strong focus on managing pain and other distressing symptoms that can significantly improve a child's overall well-being. It is care that is holistic. It addresses the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of the child's life, helping to reduce suffering. This results in a better quality of life for both the child and their family.
Pediatric palliative care recognizes the importance of supporting the family and aiding access to community resources. Social workers work hand in hand with physicians and nurses to provide emotional and psychosocial support and facilitate communication and decision-making. This is especially important for patients who are not that well-off financially.
The palliative care team collaborates with the child's primary healthcare providers and other specialists, ensuring seamless transitions between care settings. At every stage of the illness trajectory, support is available. It encourages open and honest conversations about the child's illness, prognosis, and treatment options, empowering families to make well-informed decisions.
However, many families face challenges in accessing pediatric palliative care due to geographic or financial barriers, lack of awareness, or shortages of healthcare professionals trained in pediatric palliative care. Palliative care can also bring up emotional and existential challenges for families, particularly when discussing end-of-life matters, which can be overwhelming for some. Some healthcare providers may have limited understanding or training in pediatric palliative care, leading to misconceptions or discomfort in initiating discussions.
The field of pediatric palliative care continues to evolve and grow. It is anticipated that there will be increased awareness and integration of palliative care principles into various settings, including primary care practices and hospitals. Developing innovative approaches, such as telemedicine and mobile health technologies, may help bridge the gap in accessing palliative care for remote or underserved populations. Additionally, advancements in research and education are essential to improve the effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of pediatric palliative care.
Pediatric palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for children with serious illnesses while providing comprehensive support to their families. Addressing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs offers a holistic approach to care. While challenges exist, ongoing efforts to increase awareness, improve access, and advance research hold promise for the future of pediatric palliative care, ensuring that children and their families receive the support they need during challenging times.
“Optimism is the one quality more associated with success and happiness than any other.”
Brian Tracy
It is a challenging and crazy world. But we continue to exist.
I heard a friend tell me that to live in this world is to survive. There are always obstacles to hurdle, and once we get over it, we move on to the next. The walls to traverse may differ between us, but the wall is there - imposing its will. Those walls will not move, so we must move it, tear it down, or pass through. The decision on what to do ultimately rests in us.
Recently, we have seen how anger can rear its ugly head when provoked by the way of road rage. Humans are triggered by perceived impartiality or inequality, or when a lack of respect is felt. In a perfect world, these would be easy to brush off, but we are not in a perfect world. We also know that not all of us are gifted with the traits of patience and understanding, so we always need to work on managing our emotions.
To help us make decisions (yes, ultimately, our reactions are a result of our decisions), our thoughts need to be conditioned to neutralize or even eliminate negativity. It is said that humans have this natural tendency to put themselves down and think negatively, so there has to be a conscious effort to resist this inclination.
What, therefore, is the mindset of a positive individual, and how can we adopt it?
First, we must avoid negativity. Even in the hour of death, as we face sickness and disease, we must look at the bright side. A suffering individual may find reprieve from a long history of pain and discomfort when the time comes to leave. Shunning negative thoughts does not mean indifference – it conveys a recognition that not all is lost for there are still people who love and need us.
Second, our words lead us to our emotions. When we fill our language with positivity and good vibes, positivity seeps into our consciousness and uplifts others. We are then strengthened by the goodness around us, even in moments of grief and despair. This is why when a loved one is lost, we give our condolences and render words of encouragement.
Third, we must remain grateful. In the face of loss, we find things that we have. Family, friends, a roof to sleep under, and a job allow us to offset whatever we lack in physical attributes, financial stability, and talent. Thankfulness also means being able to pay it forward. We must actively search for opportunities to be a blessing to others, so we see that our miseries can be handled with ease.
Fourth, our health must be at its best so that we can do and achieve more. Nothing dampens a day more than having uncontrolled pain and unmanageable symptoms. We must also exert effort to minimize pain and discomfort for others. If health problems cannot be prevented, at the very least, they must be managed well through proper diet, exercise, and medications.
Lastly, find positive, well-meaning people. These are individuals with the same thrust as ours – to help and be a positive influence. Counseling others to limit negativity is also imperative. Seek to make a happy community that uplifts and energizes so you will not see the dark side of the day.
Rekindle optimism, and spread good vibes!
