Is a client in palliative care allowed to have visitors whilst they are sleeping?
I am currently studying Aged Care Cert III, the current topic i am studying is Palliative Care. A part of my assessment i was asked a conflicting question i seem to be having a little trouble with. The question being 'If the client i am supporting is receiving palliative care are they able to receive visitors whilst they are sleeping?'
After doing a bit of research online for a more constructive lead i am left with a conflicting issue, i understand the importance of a patients rest time, and have read that refusing a visitor on their behalf (when they are sleeping) and advising them to return at a more suitable hour is more appropriate. However i also understand that some clients like the comfort factor in having guests visiting during this time.
I am hoping that someone will be able to give me a more 'policy and procedure' lead on this question.
Any help would be muchly appreciated. :)
My father always expressed a wish to die alone. When it became clear the time was close, I bid him my final farewell. My brother, who spent many decades away in Europe (with visits every three years), could not tear himself away from dad. I had to get back to the house to take care of my immobile mom. At three in the morning, my father who hadn't spoken in days and days, managed to get out "Go away," to my brother. That's some kind of miracle in itself.
My brother got back to the family home at 3:15. At 3:20, hospice called to tell us he had passed. My brother was heartbroken, but I finally convinced him later that was dad's wish.
Every single situation is different, by person, and by family. In my experience, the dying spend a lot of their final days sleeping. I don't feel like I violated my dad's wishes to 'die' alone. He was still living at the time visitors were allowed to see him. These were all dear people that loved him in life and needed a chance to see him and say goodbye. I believe it helps in achieving closure for the ones that love the person. We all need to process the 'process' and realize they just didn't disappear in a poof of smoke. We have to go on living and learn and absorb that someday our time will come too.
My son was 14 when his Grandpa died and he spent quite a few hours with him before he passed. Gramps was his hero. He witnessed a lot of love and kindness during that hard time. He's 16 now and has a reverence for life for someone so young. It's my belief that people are too sheltered today from the realities of dying, from the natural rhythms of life. It makes the bonds of love here on earth that much stronger and precious to be a witness to caring for a dying loved one. For my family and I, it has reaffirmed our faith in God and that He is love.
But that is me, making a judgment on behalf of someone I know intimately. I imagine it is quite different for a health care professional. I that case I would try to find out the wishes of the client. No visitors when I sleeping, except Aunt Martha, and try to make her comfortable until I wake up? Please wake me up if my brother Bill shows up? Anyone who wants to sit with me as I sleep is welcome to it? I don't even want visitors when I'm awake, until I'm feeling better? If you can find out the preferences of the client, I think I'd follow them unless the clearly interfered with his or her care.
Palliative care is supposed to be calming and soothing. But what is comforting to me might be distressing to my mother, so I don't see how this can be a one-size-fits all answer.
Good luck on your studies.
P.s: windytown, your story made me very sad, but i am thankful that you decided to share it with me, for me it has reaffirmed why i wanted to be apart of this industry.
Dee :-)
If a health care professional insisted on overriding my judgement in this manner he or she would not be welcome back, and I would file a complaint with the employer.
I appreciate your response, it was helpful. My take on the question was much like yours, there isn't nor should there be a 'one size fits all' answer, my trainers however seem to disagree.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.
Kind Regards.
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