Palliative Care Commons^™

Integrating Positive Psychology And Spirituality To Foster Meaning And Well-Being In Older Adults, Crystal Morris

Adultspan Journal

This perspective article explores the integration of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) and spirituality in therapy to foster meaning and well-being in older adults. It highlights exercises such as the positive introduction, positive legacy, character strengths, mindfulness, mindful-based yoga, and a manifestation prayer journaling. The interventions presented are tools to support older adults that may experience depression, difficult life transitions, and the search for renewed meaning. Therapists who integrate PPIs and spirituality into therapy can promote a holistic, non-pathological approach to treatment.

Pengaruh Durasi Pengobatan Dan Preferensi Pasien Kanker Stadium Akhir Terhadap Layanan Homecare Di Rumah Sakit Medistra Pada Tahun 2021-2023, Peter Brian Sutanto Putra Dr, Erfen Gustiawan Suwangto Dr, Tena Djuartina Dr, Iskandar Rahardjo Budianto Dr, C. Rinaldi A. Lesmana

Jurnal Penyakit Dalam Indonesia

Introduction. Cancer is still an enormous health problem in the world and rank second as the most common cause of mortality. End-stage cancer requires end-of-life or palliative care to improve the patient’s quality of life before death. Homecare services have become an option for providing palliative care to avoid long-term hospital stays. The study aimed to provide an overview of the treatment duration and other factors in end-stage cancer patients regarding the selection of homecare services at Medistra Hospital during the period of 2021-2023.

Methods. This study with a cross-sectional design analyzed medical records of end-stage cancer patients …

Providing End-Of-Life Counseling: A Narrative Inquiry, Carol Hecht, Sibyl West

Adultspan Journal

This qualitative study aimed to address the gap in the research related to end-of-life counseling by exploring the experiences of counselors working with clients at end of life. While counseling literature and education are lacking regarding end of life, many counselors will work alongside clients approaching death. The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to better understand the nuanced experiences of counselors providing end-of-life counseling and (b) to explore the supports and preparations helpful for counselors to provide end-of-life counseling. A narrative approach, using the Listening Guide (Gilligan, 2015), was employed to analyze and present the stories of three …

Considerations Of Medicare Telehealth Services With Older Adults, Sonah Kho, Amanda Dediego

Adultspan Journal

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic set in motion a rapid expansion of mental health services offered via telehealth. With this rapid expansion came the need to examine how policy and practice should be shaped in a future where telehealth is considered common in counseling practice. For counselors to understand how to support older adult clients in using telehealth services, they must understand telehealth policy. Following the eligibility of licensed counselors to participate in Medicare, counselors need to stay abreast of regulatory changes regarding restrictions and regulations on use of telehealth for mental and behavioral health services, including video and …

Emotion Regulation Strategies And Perceived Emotional Intelligence: The Effect Of Age., Iwanna Sepiadou

Adultspan Journal

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. We also investigated the possible effects of age on the aforementioned variables. The total sample consisted of 379 people (158 men, 220 women, 1 unreported). Across participants, 273 were young (20-39 years old) and 106 were middle-aged (40-65 years old). We found statistically significant positive correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of cognitive reappraisal and negative primarily correlations between the dimensions of perceived emotional intelligence and the reported use of …

The Unequal Distribution Of Social Risk For Black Men Across The Life-Span. A Novel Framework., Waleed Y. Sami

Adultspan Journal

This conceptual overview offers a comprehensive overview of systemic pathways that negatively impact the mental health of Black Men throughout their lives. Our argument highlights the importance for counselors and mental health professionals to utilize a thorough social risk assessment that considers these pathways in order to effectively address the mental health needs of Black Men while fostering positive working relationships. This overview strongly advocates for the use of context and structural determinants when evaluating mental health symptoms. Without an appropriate understanding of social risk and determinants, counselors may inadvertently perpetuate disparities by decontextualizing symptomology, and reproducing racist discourse.

On The Discontinuation Of Enteral Feeding In Head And Neck Cancer: A Case Report, Kyle Fisk, Ana Sanchez

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Introduction

The goal of palliative care is to preserve the quality of life or patient “comfort” in patients with serious diseases. Palliative care providers serve a wide range of patients: from those who seek curative treatment to those who are actively dying. Given this range, palliative care must mirror the dynamic goals of the patient at different stages of life and treatment. Throughout these stages, a goal of the palliative care provider would be to avoid hastening death; however, this often leads to clinical decisions that directly pit the patient’s comfort against the patient’s life span. This is most salient …

A New Wave Of The Overdose Epidemic Arises During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Tolga Suvar Md, Asokumar Buvanendran Md, Stephen Music Do, Wilson M. Compton Md, Mpe

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Abstract

Objective:

The goal of this manuscript is to highlight the notoriety of the overdose epidemic which has been masked by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Methods:

A thorough literature review of PubMed and the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was performed for the most relevant and updated data regarding overdose deaths.

Conclusion:

The global health crisis known as the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic collided with the opioid epidemic in March of 2020, with devastating consequences for the United States. By overwhelming the healthcare system, the pandemic impacted patients who require continued mental health services, …

Conference Proceedings: Select Abstracts Presented At 2021 Advocate Aurora Health Scientific Day

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Abstracts published within this supplement were presented at the 47th annual Advocate Aurora Health Scientific Day, held virtually on May 26, 2021. This research symposium provides a forum for disseminating results from studies conducted by faculty, fellows, residents, and other allied health professionals associated with Midwest-based health system Advocate Aurora Health, which publishes the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews.

Support For Family Members Who Are Caregivers To Relatives With Acquired Brain Injury, Janet Walker, Lourens Schlebusch, Bernhard Gaede

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Objectives. Family members caring for a patient with acquired brain injury (ABI) are coping with inordinate levels of stress partially due to their lack of understanding of the neuropsychological effects of acquired brain injury in the patient. The objective of this research is to show that as the caregivers’ stress levels increase, there is an increase in suicidal ideation. This highlights the causal relationship between unhealthy stress and reduced psychological well-being in these caregivers. In addition, qualitative research evidence regarding the caregivers’ views of their main sources of stress are presented. Methods. The participants were a random sample of 80 …

Hospice Care For The Primary Physician, Katie Mechler, Md

Department of Family & Community Medicine Presentations and Grand Rounds

Objectives

• Palliative vs Hospice Care
• History of Hospice Care
• Description of the Hospice Benefit
• Review of Hospice Eligibility
• Discussing Hospice with your Patients

Addressing Psychosocial Outcomes Of Social Isolation In Older Adults, Megan Friesen, Madeline M. Christensen

Nursing DNP Projects

Purpose and Rationale

The aim of the evidence-based practice (EBP) project is to improve psychological outcomes for socially isolated older adults enrolled in a Homebound Program (HP) through the implementation of an EBP intervention. Social isolation has a multitude of negative consequences, including impacting the psychological health (e.g. depression, loneliness, anxiety) of the older adult population.

Synthesis of Evidence

Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and randomized controlled trials addressing the clinical problem of social isolation were identified. Through critical appraisal of the evidence, physical activity, psychotherapy, and socialization interventions have shown to decrease depression and loneliness in older adults. There were mixed …

Conference Proceedings: Aurora Scientific Day 2020

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Abstracts published in this supplement were among those presented at the 46th annual Aurora Scientific Day research symposium, held virtually on May 20, 2020. The symposium provides a forum for describing research studies conducted by faculty, fellows, residents, and allied health professionals affiliated with Wisconsin-based Aurora Health Care, a part of the Advocate Aurora Health health system, which publishes the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews.

Goals Of Care 101, Alexandra Evans, Do, Adam Pennarola, Md, Elham Siddiqui, Md

Department of Family & Community Medicine Presentations and Grand Rounds

Hospice and Palliative Medicine - Alexandra Evans, DO

Approaching Goals of Care in the Outpatient World - Elham Siddiqui, MD

Inpatient Goals of Care Discussion - Adam Pennarola, MD

Compassion And Suppression In Caregivers: Twin Masks Of Tragedy And Joy Of Caring, Emanuele Maria Merlo, Sean M. Mcnabney, Fabio Frisone, Federica Sicari, Mihai Paunica, Catalina Motofei, Salvatore Settineri

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Background: Compassionate caregiving is a critical skill for workers among the helping professions, but the degree of empathy required by caregivers can place high demands on their mental and emotional resources. While many professionals employ successful coping strategies to mitigate these stressors, others experience compassion fatigue or burnout from emotional exhaustion. The objective of this research was to evaluate the relationships between caregivers’ demographic/career variables, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and psychodynamic defense mechanisms such as suppression, repressive function, regression in the service of the Ego, and rationalization. Methods: Participants were 250 caregivers with 178 (71,2%) women and 72 men (28,8%) …

Evidence Doesn’T Change Prescribing Patterns…So What Does?, Ali Rida, Anthony Brooks

Clinical Research in Practice: The Journal of Team Hippocrates

The authors write in support of critical analysis of clinical research, as a corrective to the physician's urge to "do something" even when no evidence of benefit exists.

Keep The Beat With Heart Failure Education: A Quality Improvement Project, Brenda L. Peterson

Master's Projects and Capstones

Abstract

Problem: Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is the number one diagnosis-related group (DRG) for people 65 years of age and older in the United States. This disease group is complicated and debilitating, requiring frequent hospitalizations with high mortality rates. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has identified CHF as an area for improvement in hospitals.

Context: This was a quality improvement project for an integrated medical center in the Central Valley, California with over 19,000 HF patients. In 2018, for patients 65 years and older, HF is the third-most admitted DRG …

Implementation Of A Volunteer-Based Hospital Program For Older Adults, Elizabeth Collins, Md, Kristine Swartz, Md

House Staff Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference (2016-2019)

Background

• A multi-faceted, volunteer-led, hospital-based program1has been shown to: •Reduce the incidence of delirium •Decrease hospital length of stay •Reduce hospital costs.
• Implementation of such a program requires upfront investment.
• A smaller, volunteer-based visitation program for older adults may provide support for the allocation of more hospital resources in delirium prevention and establishment of a formal Hospital Elder Life Program1in this institution.
• This research aims to investigate: •If the implementation of a visitation program is feasible at this hospital •Volunteer experience with the program.

Education And Referral Criteria: Impact On Oncology Referrals To Palliative Care., Barbara Reville, Joanne Reifsnyder, Deborah B Mcguire, Karen Kaiser, Abbie Santana

Department of Family & Community Medicine Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To describe a quality improvement project involving education and referral criteria to influence oncology provider referrals to a palliative care service.

METHODS: A single group post-test only quasi-experimental design was used to evaluate palliative care service (PCS) referrals following an intervention consisting of a didactic presentation, education outreach visits (EOV) to key providers, and referral criteria. Data on patient demographics, cancer types, consult volume, reasons for referral, pre-consult length of stay, overall hospital stay, and discharge disposition were collected pre-intervention, then post-intervention for 7.5 months and compared.

SETTING AND SAMPLE: Attending oncologists, nurse practitioner, and house staff from the …