A Nurse s Glance Towards Palliative Care in the Neurological Patient

Abstract

A nurse's glance towards palliative care in the neurological patient.

Palliative care is recognized as a right, and therefore should be applicable to all patients who need it regardless of the etiology of the disease they suffer. But the truth is that for different reasons, palliative care for the non-cancer patient is unequal.

Palliative care is necessary and effective in the care of patients with neurological involvement, especially if it is degenerative. With the same aim, we need to consider certain differences regarding palliative care in the oncological patient. Families spend long periods of time with the patient feeling powerless and witnessing a progressive loss of the patient s abilities. Besides, we must consider the high prevalence of communication difficulties, cognitive impairment and the behavioral disorders that these patients suffer. This causes families to go through an increasing overload that makes them especially vulnerable. Therefore, an adequate emotional support is necessary during both the disease process, and after death. To a large extent, this can prevent the appearance of complicated mourning. Despite this, in general, the family that takes care of a patient with a neurological disease usually resorts less frequently to external help. Together with the patient they establish a meticulous routine that sometimes clashes with the rigidity, for example, of the hospitalization units. They are less inclined to establish bonds of trust with the therapeutic team, which means that they are not able to completely disconnect, limiting the reduction of overload.

A nurse's glance towards palliative care in the neurological patient.

Palliative care is recognized as a right, and therefore should be applicable to all patients who need it regardless of the etiology of the disease they suffer. But the truth is that for different reasons, palliative care for the non-cancer patient is unequal.

Palliative care is necessary and effective in the care of patients with neurological involvement, especially if it is degenerative. With the same aim, we need to consider certain differences regarding palliative care in the oncological patient. Families spend long periods of time with the patient feeling powerless and witnessing a progressive loss of the patient s abilities. Besides, we must consider the high prevalence of communication difficulties, cognitive impairment and the behavioral disorders that these patients suffer. This causes families to go through an increasing overload that makes them especially vulnerable. Therefore, an adequate emotional support is necessary during both the disease process, and after death. To a large extent, this can prevent the appearance of complicated mourning. Despite this, in general, the family that takes care of a patient with a neurological disease usually resorts less frequently to external help. Together with the patient they establish a meticulous routine that sometimes clashes with the rigidity, for example, of the hospitalization units. They are less inclined to establish bonds of trust with the therapeutic team, which means that they are not able to completely disconnect, limiting the reduction of overload.