1. The Role of Care Assistants in Palliative Care
By Joseph Mooney

2. ‘You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life. We will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die.’ (Dame Cicely Saunders 1993)

3. Caring and Assisting Caring – many interpretations To be concerned
To have regard, affection and consideration
To provide physical needs, help or comfort
(Mc Cance 2005).

4. Assisting Various meanings Helping Available Doing ones best
Being aware of the need
Planning
Valuing

5. Nature of Role Role is multi-dimensional
Encompasses the physical, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual aspects
Role is unique – caring relationship during the illness trajectory

6. Role of Care Assistant To support patients and families Admission
Adapting to new environment
Assessment of needs
Observing the verbal and non-verbal cues

7. Role of Care Assistant To support Nursing and Medical Staff
Activities of living
Pressure area care
Meeting hygiene needs
Mobilisation and ambulation
Promoting comfort

8. Role of Care Assistant
To attend multi-Disciplinary Meeting and psychosocial meetings
Weekly meetings
Contributions from my interactions with patients and family members
Decision making with regard to patient/ family care planning – as illness progresses

9. Communications Patient Family Interdisciplinary team
Focus on living and dying

10. Patient and Family Support
Nursing and medical staff
Occupational Therapist
Physiotherapy
Chaplaincy
Household
Social workers

11. Challenges Exposure to death and dying Family Dynamics Terminology
Management of symptoms
Patients’ lack of awareness and understanding of their conditions

12. Rewards Meeting patients and families
Ordinariness of care- makes a difference
Time
Journeying with patients and families
Team member
Muti- skilled

13. Thank You
Questions?