The Importance Of Palliative Care

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Palliative care is a form of end-of-life care that aims to improve the quality of life of the dying. It also supports the family of the dying. In these few years, palliative care is receiving increasing recognition in Singapore and efforts are made to improve it. This paper discusses about the perspectives of people in Singapore about death and dying, and palliative care. It also discusses about the roles that palliative care has and does not have in Singapore, and the possible solutions to improve palliative care.

Subtopic 1: Death in the social context

This subtopic discusses about the perspective of Singaporeans about death and dying, and palliative care
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The location of death is a consideration by Singaporeans. In a study done by The …show more content…

76% of Singaporeans are willing to receive palliative care and 63% of Singaporeans who knew people who underwent palliative care gave good ratings about it. (Lien, 2014) This could be due to the holistic services provided by hospices in Singapore. For example, pain management caters to physical aspect, bereavement support and counselling caters to psychological aspect and religious counselling, caters to the cultural aspect. These holistic aspects of care allow the patient and family to feel respected, dignified and empowered.

There is social and psychological care provided. The Caregiver Training Centre train caregivers to increase their proficiency in caring for the patient. (HCA,2007). This is meeting the social aspect as there are services and resources used to help those involved in palliative care. Psychological needs of the patient and their families are met. For example, caregivers cope better as they know how to care correctly for the patient. They can contribute meaningfully to their loved ones in the last days of their lives, instead of unable to help and feeling hopeless day by day. This can aid them psychologically because they are in control of the situation and feel empowered. This change allows the caregiver to be receptive about the patient’s condition and cope better with death. This allows the patient to have fruitful last days as their loved ones are caring for them. This facilitates a better quality of life, meeting the goal of palliative

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