Discussing end-of-life care

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Keywords

Resilience – End-of-life – Planning – Communication – Spirituality

In this episode of Resilience Unravelled Dr Russell Thackeray talks to Dr Bob Uslander from Empowered Endings, an organisation that supports people through their end of life. Bob talks about his transition from emergency medicine to palliative care and hospice care, and his motivation to have deeper connections with patients and a desire to bridge the gaps in the healthcare system.

Bob also discusses end-of-life care, the role of hospices, and the need for improved communication and planning around end-of-life decisions. He emphasises the importance of spirituality and religion in end-of-life decisions, the need for planning, and the challenges faced when there are disagreements between patients and their families.

 Main topics

  • Why discomfort about end-of-life care, often leads to a reluctance to discuss it.

  • The importance of providing patients with options and dignity at the end of life.

  • The need for better support and planning for patients and their families during these times.

  • The role of spirituality and religion in end-of-life decisions, particularly in relation to medical aid in dying.

  • The importance of supporting families, providing therapy, counselling, and bereavement support.

  • The challenges faced when there are disagreements between patients and their families.

  • The need for open conversations about death to reduce the stigma associated with it.

  • The importance of having advocates who understand and can communicate one's wishes in challenging situations.

  • The psychological impact on loved ones when making end-of-life decisions and the importance of having a supportive community to navigate those decisions.

Action items

You can find out more at  https://empoweredendings.com/

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