The Palliative Bridge
May 10, 2008
The palliative care movement is the bridge from which research, findings, information and practical applications can flow back and forth between the 2 worlds (of acute care and hospice care) we have now. Palliative care is the vehicle to blend these worlds.
Moving hospice information up to the pre-hospice world of serious illness….moving palliative care along side of cure directed treatment to bridge total care of a person…moving the pre-hospice person to hospice without a crisis driven admission but rather from a quiet contemplation of choice.
Palliative care begins with physical comfort so that emotional, spiritual, psychological, financial, logistical and relational needs can be met fully. Palliative care brings full information from all sides of options so that informed decisions can truly be made.
Palliative care provides options to the standard treatment in every end of life concern, from diagnosis with a life-threatening illness through bereavement, and includes the whole family.
Hello -
I am a documentary maker and hospice volunteer in Atlanta, Georgia.
I’ve produced a short documentary about end-of- life decision making, palliative care, caregiving and hospice.
It’s called 203 Days.
You can view it in its entirety at the following University of Connecticut website along with a study guide.
http://fitsweb.uchc.edu/Days/days.html
It is an unflinching look at the day-to-day interactions between patient and caregiver, in this case an 89 year old woman who is living with her daughter.
203 Days recently won the First Place 2007 Film Award from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).
If you’d like more information please go to my website
http://bbarash.com/bb_203days.htm
I hope this film is helpful to people who want to know more about some of the most common experiences for caregiver and patient at this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Bailey Barash