Competent and
compassionate care is not a privilege for the fortunate few who
encounter hospice during their final illness. Competent and
compassionate care is the absolute right of every
patient, wherever he or she may be.
Skilled
physical symptom control is the linchpin of good hospice and
palliative care, around which revolve other key services to
patient and family, and without which the many psychological,
social and spiritual needs of patient and family cannot easily
be met.
Over the past
generation, hospices have developed and demonstrated the
principles of good terminal care; among these the need for
regular titrated analgesia, respect for the family as the unit
of care, use of a multi-disciplinary team for problem-solving
and support, emphasis on the quality of remaining life, and
concern for those who are grieving.
The great
challenge of the 1990s is to expand hospice principles and
practices to the care of all patients and their families.
This process is already underway through example, education, and
consumer demand. The hospice movement must encourage and welcome
responsible and innovative adaptation of existing principles and
practices in varied settings and situations. Much more remains
to be done, particularly in the areas of professional and public
education.
The Hospice
Education Institute is proud to publish this book by Dr. Peter
Kaye. Dr. Kaye is among the growing number of health and caring
professionals who combine strong scientific knowledge, broad
clinical experience and active practical compassion in caring
for patients and their families. These physicians, nurses,
caring professionals and community volunteers are setting new
and higher standards for the practice of hospice and palliative
care, by demonstrating how patients with far advanced disease,
and their families, can receive the best that modern home health
care, day care and inpatient care can offer. This book explains
what can be done, and encourages us all to do it well, wherever
we are.
Michal Galazka
Executive
Director
Hospice
Education Institute
June, 1989
