Consider what palliative care is
Palliative Care Week runs from September 6 to 12
The All-Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) is encouraging people throughout the island of Ireland to think about what palliative care is, and how it could positively support their lives, or the lives of their loved ones, now and in the future.
AIIHPC’s 13th annual Palliative Care Week will run from Sunday to Saturday, September 6 to 12. The all-island public awareness campaign theme ‘It's Not What You Think’, aims to dispel common misunderstandings and highlight the broad benefits of palliative care for people with life-limiting conditions and their families.
Minister for Health NI, Mike Nesbitt MLA will address the Palliative Care All Ireland Practice Conference at the Canal Court Hotel in Newry on Tuesday, September 8. The conference will hear about developments in palliative care practice across the island of Ireland, including Dr Elizabeth Morrow, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland on Rehabilitative Palliative Care and Dr Emma Lundy, Evora Hospice Care on Motor neurone disease and palliative care. The event will bring together health and social care professionals, researchers, educators, students, policy makers, volunteers and community organisations. The conference themes will cover living well with life limiting illnesses and palliative care in our communities, aligned to this year’s overall campaign theme.
AIIHPC Chief Executive Officer Karen Charnley believes the current narrative around palliative support needs to change.
“People often hear the words palliative care and assume it means someone is coming near to the end of their life,” Charnley said. “That misunderstanding means people with life- limiting conditions are missing out on the wide range of physical, social, spiritual and emotional supports available that could make their daily routines much more comfortable.
We hope that the theme for this year ‘It’s not what you think’ will encourage people to think about what palliative care can offer so that people can live well with a serious illness. Because, in reality, palliative care is about living as well as possible whilst having a life-limiting condition.”
AIIHPC Chair, Fintan Fagan, Chief Executive Officer, St Francis Hospice Dublin, added: “Palliative Care Week provides an important opportunity each year to raise awareness and share information about the breadth of supports that palliative care can offer and the positive impact on those who need it and their families, carers and loved ones.
The week also highlights the growing integration of palliative care within communities, recognising the value of local, coordinated supports that enable people to receive care in familiar surroundings and remain connected to their communities.”
This year’s campaign emphasises that palliative care focuses on meeting the physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of people of all ages. It is not exclusive to cancer patients, nor is it only about end of life. The wide range of services can range from symptom management for pain to rehabilitative palliative care to support people to continue with daily activities through to complementary and creative arts therapies and assistance with treatment decisions and planning for the future. Furthermore, this care is provided by a wide array of professionals across hospitals, hospices, nursing homes and in people’s homes.
The public is encouraged to visit www.thepalliativecarehub.com to learn more about the palliative care, with resources available for adults, children, family carers and health professionals.