Introduction to Palliative and End of Life Care

Explore the core principles of palliative care. Learn the skills you need to assess patients and their families in order to deliver effective palliative and end of life care as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Palliative and end of life care covers the holistic care of all patients living with life-limiting illness, aiming to improve their quality of life and that of their families. Government initiatives such as the Department of Health’s End of Life Care Strategy increasingly place patients at the heart of decision-making about their care.

Palliative and end of life care is relevant in many care settings.. It involves the holistic care of patients with advanced progressive illnesses, and the purpose is to achieve the best quality of life for patients and their families. Palliative care needs to be available when and where the patient and their carers want it.

This course is ideal for carers working with people who are approaching the end of their lives, and is especially relevant for non-registered carers in care homes, hospitals and hospices. It will help you to identify assessment needs and to apply the principles of palliative care in any practice setting.

This course explores the core principles of palliative care. It will provide you with the skills you need to assess patient needs before planning and delivering a holistic care. This course is particularly relevant if you are new to the field of palliative and end of life care or are interested in improving your knowledge and skills in this area.

Course Content

• Principles of palliative care: WHO definition, National Service Frameworks, Health and Social care Policy.
• Psychosocial aspects of palliative care: attachment, separation & loss, coping strategies & spiritual care.
• Communication skills: helping people live with a life limiting illness.
• Management of distressing symptoms: pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
• Ethical issues in palliative care.