Search results for ‘Subject term:"palliative care"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 7 of 7
Better palliative care for older people
- Editors:
- DAVIES Elizabeth, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 40p.
- Place of publication:
- Copenhagen
Most deaths in European and other developed countries occur in people aged over 65; as life expectancy increases the number of people living to older ages is also increasing in many countries. In the context of the resulting growing public health importance of palliative care, this booklet aims to present evidence for policies for palliative care for older people, arguments for integrating palliative care across health services and promoting better care towards the end of life, and models for effective care solutions. It describes the implications of population ageing for palliative care needs and why these are a public health priority, the needs and rights of older people and their families, and underassessment and treatment of older peoples' problems and their lack of access to palliative care. It summarises evidence for effective care solutions, including better pain relief, communication and organisation of services such as home care and specialist services. It also discusses the key challenges for health policy and decision makers in government and non-governmental sectors, and provides recommendations to improve care and provide security and dignity for older people towards the end of life. It expresses a European viewpoint. A separate companion booklet, Palliative care - the solid facts, considers why palliative care is a public health issue.
Towards accessible integrated palliative care: perspectives of leaders from seven European countries on facilitators, barriers and recommendations for improvement
- Authors:
- DEN HERDEN-VAN DER EERDEN Marlieke, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Integrated Care, 25(3), 2017, pp.222-232.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Literature suggests that integrated palliative care (IPC) increases the quality of care for palliative patients at lower costs. However, knowledge on models encompassing all integration levels for successfully implementing IPC is scarce. The purpose of this paper is to describe the experiences of IPC leaders in seven European countries regarding core elements, facilitators and barriers of IPC implementation and provides recommendations for future policy and practice. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative interview study was conducted between December 2013 and May 2014. In total, 34 IPC leaders in primary and secondary palliative care or public health in Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK were interviewed. Transcripts were analysed using thematic data analysis. Findings: IPC implementation efforts involved a multidisciplinary team approach and cross-sectional coordination. Informal professional relationships, basic medical education and general awareness were regarded as facilitators of IPC. Identified barriers included lack of knowledge about when to start palliative care, lack of collaboration and financial structures. Recommendations for improvement included access, patient-centeredness, coordination and cooperation, financing and ICT systems. Originality/value: Although IPC is becoming more common, action has been uneven at different levels. IPC implementation largely remains provisional and informal due to the lack of standardised treatment pathways, legal frameworks and financial incentives to support multilevel integration. In order to make IPC more accessible, palliative care education as well as legal and financial support within national healthcare systems needs to be enhanced. (Publisher abstract)
Making palliative care a priority topic on the European health agenda and recommendations for the development of palliative care in Europe
- Author:
- EUROPEAN FEDERATION OF OLDER PERSONS
- Publisher:
- European Federation of Older Persons
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 31p.
- Place of publication:
- Graz
In many countries palliative care for older persons is not provided in the most appropriate way that would be possible. The European Federation of Older Persons (EURAG) has been repeatedly confronted with this problem. EURAG wishes to make Palliative Care a priority topic on the European Health Agenda, which would best be achieved by a Decision to be adopted by the Council of the European Union. EURAG therefore undertakes to formulate a draft for such a Decision. This draft takes into account the role of the European Union in the field of health care and proposes the adherence to other recent summaries of recommendations delivered by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers to member states on the organisation of palliative care, and by WHO Europe Collaboration Projects. EURAG is convinced that the available facts, ethical considerations and the availability of appropriate solutions are sufficient as a basis for immediate action. EURAG recommends additional measures at a low cost in order to promote palliative care by informing decision makers, enabling professionals as well as volunteers and helping the families. This document, therefore, promotes awareness for this topic at European level.
Palliative care: the solid facts
- Editors:
- DAVIES Elizabeth, HIGGINSON Irene J., (eds.)
- Publisher:
- World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 32p.
- Place of publication:
- Copenhagen
The purpose of this booklet, intended mainly for decision makers and health professionals at all levels, is to provide a concise overview of the best available evidence on the concept of palliative care and related services. It expresses a European viewpoint. Drawing mainly on evidence from a systematic review of scientific evidence from Europe and North America, it discusses: why changes in populations make care towards the end of life a public health issue, the emerging needs for care towards the end of life, what palliative care is, the importance of individual rights, preferences and options, the evidence for effective palliative care, and the need to ensure access to palliative care for vulnerable groups. It also looks at how to develop programmes to improve the quality of palliative care, how to improve education and training in palliative care for health professionals, the need to increase public awareness of palliative care issues and options, and the kind of research and development on palliative care that will help policy makers. A separate companion booklet, Better palliative care for older people, considers the care of older people.
The ethics of palliative care: European perspectives
- Editors:
- HAVE Henk ten, CLARK David, (eds)
- Publisher:
- Open University
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 257p.
- Place of publication:
- Buckingham
As palliative care develops across many of the countries of Europe, we find that it continues to raise important ethical challenges. Palliative care practice requires ethical sensitivity and understanding. At the same time the very existence of palliative care calls for ethical explanation. Ethics and palliative care meet over some vital issues: 'the good death', sedation at the end of life, requests for euthanasia, futile treatment, and the role of research. Yet palliative care appears uncertain about its goals and there is evidence that its ethical underpinnings are changing. Likewise, the moral problems of palliative care are only partly served by the four 'principles' of modern bioethics. This innovative book, with contributions by clinicians, ethicists, philosophers and social scientists, provides the first ever picture of palliative care ethics in the European context. It will be of interest to those involved in the delivery and management of palliative care services, as well as to students and researchers.
Palliative care for older people: better practices
- Editors:
- HALL Sue, et al, (eds.)
- Publisher:
- World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 59p.
- Place of publication:
- Copenhagen
Palliative care is an important public health issue due to population ageing and the resulting increase in the number of people with chronic illness and disability. The aim of this publication is to provide examples of better palliative care practices for older people to help those involved in planning and supporting care-oriented services most appropriately and effectively. The examples of promising and best practices have been identified from literature searches and from an international call for examples through various organisations. They include ways to improve palliative care in various settings such as in hospitals, in nursing homes and at home. Some examples describe ways to help support people, such as by improving symptoms and introducing palliative care services, and also to support family members and caregivers. Other examples are concerned with finding better ways to educate staff in the many places at which older people receive care. This publication takes both an individual person and a health systems approach, focusing on examples from or relevant to Europe. The need for research into the palliative care for older people is also raised. This publication is intended for policy-makers, decision-makers, planners and multidisciplinary professionals concerned with the care and quality of life of older people.
Euthanasia: ethical and human aspects
- Authors:
- LETELLIER Philippe, et al
- Publisher:
- Council of Europe
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 176p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Strasbourg Cedex
In our societies, the voices which insist that everyone must have the right to die with dignity are growing steadily louder, but euthanasia still raises numerous questions and remains highly controversial. Is it a crime or an ultimate from of care? Can one person help another to die? And what about palliative care? What criteria should govern decisions to terminate or prolong life? Does euthanasia violate the European Convention on Human Rights? This first volume studies the ethical and human issues raised by the debate on euthanasia.