Accompanying, recovery and care: the light of hope at the end of life

Sebastian Samson Ferrari – Vatican City

Supporting procedures aimed at alleviating the suffering of patients and their families, especially those who suffer from advanced, progressive and/or peripheral stage, is the purpose of the “tilted unlimited association” in 2009. The entity develops educational programs, international cooperation and volunteering with health professionals, and patients’ relatives, as shown by the President, Dr.

In deep thinking at the end of life, how healthy employees play a fundamental role not only in alleviating physical suffering, but also in providing emotional and psychological support to those who pass through these complex situations.

The Iberian professional asserts that health personnel have a decisive responsibility in generating hope and in pain management. However, he confirms that the patient does not only require attention, but also his family, which repeatedly crosses an emotional adaptation process with each stage of the disease.

According to the expert, one of the biggest challenges is to accompany family members, who are often lost in confusion, and in many cases, they do not agree to each other about the best way to face the situation. This accompaniment requires countless patience, whether by medical and family employees, who must learn to deal with the suffering of the death of their loved ones.

It describes that in many cases, the patient is more willing than the family to face his position. While some patients accept their diagnosis and their proximity to their end, family members can find themselves in different stages of duel, from denial to deep sadness or despair. In their experience, health staff must be able to determine these emotional differences and respond to the sympathetic communication that allows all family members to understand the situation, and nothing little by little, learn to accept the inevitable.

In addition to highlighting the importance of accompanying, the source emphasizes the need for an integrated approach to palliative medicine. Not only does it be limited to physical pain, but also to provide emotional and social support space. In this sense, he mentions the teachings of Pope Francis, who, from, from, Through the world prayer networkHe emphasized that “healing is not always achieved, but we can always take care of the patient and worry about the patient.”

De L. Fuwinte acknowledges that these words from the Holy Father were deeply resonated between his colleagues and students, who saw in it an invitation to increase the health care person, especially in the field of care at the end of life.

In his sermons, Pope Francis insisted on the need to change the approach of technical and center medicine, to a drug, without neglecting technological progress, and he does not forget that the main thing is the person and his dignity. This vision is in line with the reflection that has been promoted during her career: stipulating medicine should not be considered as a “loss of time”, but as a deep humanitarian and essential work.

Another important issue dealt with from the source is lack of training in palliative medicine in many countries and in some medical colleges. Through the experience obtained in his work with the “plagiard without borders”, he was able to implement training programs in places such as the Republic of Dominican and Ecuador, where medicine is still tantamount to arising discipline. In this sense, it tells how, through these training programs, many health professionals learn to change their point of view at the end of life, and to move from a pure healing vision to a more comprehensive and humanitarian approach.

One of the most inspiring examples of the doctor is the work of the oncology doctor in the Dominican Republic, who has been able to obtain resources for careful care for children despite the difficulties in their country. Thanks to his dedication and resources provided by those without borders, he established a reference hospital in palliative medicine for children, which contributed to improving the quality of the lives of children with terminal diseases. This experience highlights the importance of training and resource availability in developing countries in order to provide generous care and humanitarian care.

Dr. de la Fuente also reflects the situation of many people who, when they reach the end of their lives, prefer to be at home surrounded by the environment of their families and their social environment. On many occasions, the hospital is not the place where patients feel more comfortable. Therefore, in areas such as Castilla Y León, social support programs that allow patients to receive dominant care in their homes have been implemented, with the support of community resources.

The idea of ​​”emotional societies”, which was implemented in other countries such as Canada, is seeking to ensure that no one will die alone and that everyone has the necessary accompanying in his environment.

Finally, the vice president of the “tilted boundaries” invites society in general to participate more in the care of the station’s patients. It is not only about health professionals, but about a collective effort that allows emotional, social and spiritual support to those who face death. Creating community support networks is essential for anyone who feels unable at the end of his life.