{"id":190,"date":"2017-12-08T14:14:14","date_gmt":"2017-12-08T19:14:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pbdev.ca\/ocp\/?page_id=190"},"modified":"2020-05-11T17:34:47","modified_gmt":"2020-05-11T21:34:47","slug":"topic-16-the-importance-of-observation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/caregiversupport.hpco.ca\/ocp\/topic-16-the-importance-of-observation\/","title":{"rendered":"Topic 16: The Importance of Observation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Topic: 16<\/div>\n

The Importance of Observation<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"PDF\"Download a PDF version of this topic<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Use the player to hear an audio version of this topic\u2026<\/span><\/p>\nhttp:\/\/caregiversupport.hpco.ca\/ocp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Topic-16.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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What You Need to Know<\/div>\n

People who are staying at home receiving palliative care often have a care plan developed by the person\u2019s doctor and a visiting nurse. A care plan is a written plan that is created to meet the needs of the person. The plan is usually created during an in-home visit where the person\u2019s personal situation, the strengths and care being provided by you and other family and friends are all outlined. The plan identifies the goals and objectives for care. For example, the care plan might state that you are helping with bathing, medications, etc. However, stating that you, as the caregiver, are assisting with those type of items does not really capture the challenges of doing so.<\/p>\n

For example, assisting with bathing a person doesn\u2019t really tell the health professionals what that is actually like when the person being cared for resists the bath. Also, a care plan might state that a caregiver (you) is helping with medications, but that doesn\u2019t explain the actual challenges that you face when the person you are helping receives multiple medications several times a day including injections, inhalers, eye drops and crushed tablets. Managing urinary catheters, skin care around a central line, gastronomy tube feedings, and oxygen adds further complications for a caregiver.<\/p>\n

It is critical that you explain to the visiting nurse and primary care physician not only what you are doing to help the person but the successes and challenges in doing so. Your observations are very important and need to be shared with the health care professionals.<\/p>\n

The Importance of Observation<\/span><\/h4>\n

You have the unique responsibility of being the eyes, ears, nose and touch of the person\u2019s physician. You can use your observation skills to gather subtle clues as to how the person is changing day to day. Sometimes a change can be emotional, physical and\/or spiritual. A sign of spiritual distress may be a person asking \u201cWhy me? I must have been a bad person to suffer like this.\u201d See Topic #14<\/strong> Other signs or symptoms can show that the person\u2019s medical condition has changed abruptly perhaps because of a sudden stroke or injury and other times the change can be a more gradual shift such as a reduction in food or fluid intake or decreased mobilization or increased drowsiness.<\/p>\n

People who are suffering from a life-limiting illness or nearing end of life, may experience a few of these symptoms or many of these symptoms:<\/p>\n