The latest issue of Media Watch, compiled and annotated by Barry R. Ashpole (Ontario, Canada) can now be downloaded here. More reports can be found at IPCRC.NET
Articles from Asia Pacific Region:
More Chinese committed to end-of-life care
CHINA | New China (Beijing) – 8 October 2016 – Currently, only a small proportion of patients can access hospice care, as the waiting list comes mainly from nursing homes and community health centers. It is China’s top priority to train more social workers and carers as experienced hospice workers are scarce. There are 200 million Chinese who are over 60, with more than 40 million critically ill. Most of them are disabled, blind, or suffering from conditions like Alzheimer’s and aphasia, says Li Zan, director general of Changsha Shifangyuan. Tang Zhuozhuo, the oldest volunteer there, feels grateful to every person she accompanied as they helped her overcome her fear of death. At the Carnation Geriatric Hospital in Changsha, social worker Sangye Tashi describes his job as to love and accompany. He also finds it more worthy by helping these people pass away peacefully than singing for fans. https://goo.gl/fGsDOl
Article highlighted to be of particular interest:
Palliative care: Keeping hope alive for the terminally ill
AFRICA (Rwanda) | The New Times (Kigali) – 10 October 2016 – Every year, desperate family members abandon their loved ones in hospitals hoping for help, after being financially and psychologically drained. Concerns of lack of trained palliative care professionals, regulation of the use of painkillers and ignorance among caregivers at family level, among others are a big issue. Grace Kankindi, palliative care nurse, warns that despite regular supply of morphine, lack of support affects patients’ well being and stifles their recovery. https://goo.gl/gCEK7K
The AAP Resilience in the Face of Grief and Loss Curriculum
PEDIATRICS | Online – 10 October 2016 – In order to help pediatric health providers turn anxiety and grief into professional experiences, a curriculum on resilience and adaptation has been designed. It addresses the intellectual and emotional characteristics they need to provide high-quality, compassionate care while also addressing active and intentional ways to maintain personal wellness and resilience. https://goo.gl/AUgmS9
Quality of life can be worth more than extending life at all costs
U.K. (Scotland) | The Scotsman (Edinburgh) – 7 October 2016 – It is vital to ensure that care and support is built around the needs of the patients and their wishes towards the end of their lives. Often, this is when medical interventions of little or no benefit may be given, contrasting to their wishes. Therefore, it is important to have better communication between patients, families and healthcare providers to plan for the future. When healthcare professionals see what matters to their patients, beyond the medications to be used, then will there be a shift from extending life to improving quality of life. https://goo.gl/jB2nfb