Question

Describe briefly how to identify needs of the person, family or carers during the palliative approach to health care in terms of holistic assessment.

Answer 1

Assessment is vital in patient-centered care. Holistic assessment helps to identify the unmet needs. A holistic approach should meet the physical, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual needs of the person. A proper holistic assessment should identify individual needs and priorities. It provides a way to care at the end of life of older adults. The holistic assessment should focus on the decision and outcomes of the individuals and their families. The assessment should include the physical, psychological, occupational, social, and spiritual needs of the person. All issues should be focused on achieving the well-being of the person. The assessor should collect information regarding

• Physical needs of the person such as weakness, fatigue, sleep patterns, pain, breathing problem, eating habits, bowel, and bladder patterns.
• Psychological assessment should focus on cognitive function and impairment.
• Social and occupational assessment should focus on a person's living environment, activities of daily living, need of assistance, level of mobilization, social security, and financial needs.
• The assessor should assess the partner's support on care, their sexual relationship, the emotional status of the children.
• Social interaction and recreational activities should also be included.

While assessing the assessor should concentrate on the place, time, and readiness of the person for interviewing. The assessor should consider the individual and families level of Knowledge and understanding of palliative care and needs of support. The assessor should be excellent in clinical judgment. The cultural values and beliefs of the person taken into account while planning the palliative care of these patients at the end of life stage.