Casebook on Ethical Decision-Making in End-of-Life Care of Older Adults “Casebook on Ethical Decision-Making in End-of-Life Care of Older Adults” is launched to provide an open-access online resource for doctors, nurses, social workers and allied health professionals who face ethical issues when caring for older adults at the end-of-life.This project is supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust’s “Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project” (JCECC) and developed in collaboration with the CUHK Centre for Bioethics. For access, please go to CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing (IOA) Website by clicking here. |
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Do End-of-Life Care Social Workers Need to Enhance Cultural Competence
As the US is a multicultural society, it can be challenging for end-of-life care social workers to apprehend the variety of cultural backgrounds and needs of their patients and their family members. Therefore, the National Association of Social Work in the US raised the end of life cultural competence issue in …Read More |
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Dignified Care
Over the past few months, media has revealed several incidents with senior citizens not being treated in proper ways. For example, elderly residents were left naked while awaiting their bath, they were being neglected, and there were even instances where they were being scold and hit because they were …Read More |
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International Community Palliative Care Interventions for COPD Patients
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a serious long-term condition, in which the flow of air into the lungs is gradually reduced by inflammation of the air passages, and damage to the tissue in the lungs. COPD is a general term for a group of conditions, of which Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema are most common. The disease is …Read More |
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Pain Assessment and Management Pain is a common experience for chronically ill patients and elderly people as they approach the end of life (Gibson & Lussier, 2012; Wajnberg et al., 2013). Pain is often part of the multiple symptoms and side effects that a person may experience at the end of life, or caused by other reasons such as injuries or falls. In the United States, for example, it was estimated that …Read More |
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Dignity in the Chinese Context
It stands to reason that a concept like dignity will be influenced by socio-cultural context and practices. How would the people in Hong Kong, a city with its unique cultural characteristic of East meets West, understand a concept like dignity? Will there be any differences compared with …Read More |
Wisdom Sharing
晚晴訓練班 – 「回憶錢罌」 (只提供中文版本)
親人即將離世,身為家人應該如何面對?「賽馬會安寧頌」 計劃項目總監周燕雯教授建議大家可以有一個「錢罌」的概念,預先儲起開心的回憶。。 …更多 |
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晚晴訓練班 – 儀式的意義 (只提供中文版本)
每個人一生都會有經歷大大小小不同的儀式,例如生日會上壽星仔會吹蠟燭、許願、切蛋糕;畢業典禮上學生會穿上畢業袍、拋四方帽;結婚典禮上新人會宣讀誓詞、交換戒指 ,每個儀式除了標誌著我們邁向人生下一個階段,賦予更深層的意義 。 …更多 |
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晚晴訓練班 – 如何療癒懊悔與遺憾 (只提供中文版本)
隨著親人逝去,除了悲傷外,照顧者及家人可能有好多懊悔和遺憾,例如: |
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晚晴訓練班 – 尊重不同的調節步伐 (只提供中文版本)
親人離開之後,我們需要調節及重新整理生活,但亦不應該過份壓抑自己對逝者的懷念之情;相反,這份情感可以成為我們生命的動力,讓我們繼續堅強地生活。我們可以同時擁有「懷念」及「適應」。有時我們會比較偏向「懷念追憶」,特別是 …更多 |
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晚晴訓練班 – 為何你不吃多些? (只提供中文版本)
晚期病人因為各種原因,例如病情、治療藥物、情緒等,導致食慾下降的情況很常見。雖然家人會不斷叫對方「吃多些」、又問「為何你不吃多些?」,但晚期病人就是「吃不下」、「吞不到」。 |
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晚晴訓練班 – 說還是不說?善意隱瞞反而帶來傷害? (只提供中文版本)
晚期病人同家人一起面對疾病、死亡的時候,有時可能會出於愛同保護而做出隱瞞的行為,但這一份善意又可能會為大家帶來痛苦、傷害,甚至造成遺憾。以下想與大家分享幾個病人同家人之間的善意隱瞞例子: …更多 |
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晚晴訓練班 – 遺物轉化 (只提供中文版本)
相信我們都有試過不捨得放棄一些物件的時候,喪親者在親人離世後,面對一屋遺物,應如何處理? |
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計劃係最好嘅選擇 – 「死亡走佬袋」 (只提供中文版本)
「走佬袋」通常是指孕婦準備「生仔」時的必備之物,準備隨時「走佬」入醫院「生仔」之用。其實「死亡」與「生仔」一樣,沒有人可以預計何時會發生,但我們同樣可以有充足的準備去應對。不少病人或者長者在生前並未同家人交代身後事的要求及安排,以致 …更多 |
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Meaningful Gifts for Your Relatives in the Last Moments of Life
If a close family member or friend is diagnosed with advanced illnesses, and he/she may only have a few months to live, this does not mean you won’t be able to have fun together, or that it is impossible to share any more beautiful moments in life. …Read More |
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A Good End of Life
The recently released ranking of 2015 Quality of Death Index1 , which reflects the quality of palliative care worldwide, shall help heighten public awareness of the importance of quality endof-life care (EoLC). Especially with Hong Kong ranking 22nd among the other 79 countries, despite being an international metropolitan. Accompanied by the inevitable trend of an aging population, it is about time that …Read More |
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When the Birds and Bees stop Flying and Buzzing: How to Talk about Death with a Child
Certain topics are hard to address in our conversations with children. One of them is the story about “the birds and the bees”, or rather, where babies come from. A second major topic of life involves the other side of that story—when the birds and the bees stop flying and buzzing, or, what happens when somebody dies. Death is …Read More |
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Pain Management: Massage Therapy
Massage techniques (for example, acupressure, reiki, deep tissue massage or shiatsu1) involve working with pressure on various areas of the body, in order to improve health and well-being. In the second century B.C., massage therapy was already described in China, and soon thereafter in India and Egypt as well (Field, 1998). This makes massage one of the oldest healing methods. Today, the effects of massage are …Read More |
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Act Before It’s Too Late – Explore End-of-Life People’s Last Wishes
A recent news reported the story of Mr. Ng, who is a 75-year-old elderly man passing away before an arranged outdoor visit to fulfill his last wishes. Mr. Ng had been living in a local elderly home for years. After failing onto the floor and hurt his neck accidentally 3 years ago, the lonely old man had never gotten a chance to …Read More |
晚晴訓練班 – 「生前葬禮」、 「最後派對」 都要我們好好告別 (只提供中文版本) 晚期病人去到最後階段會受病情影響,或需不時進出醫院,或需長時間臥床休息,甚至有部份晚期病人可能已經不能夠表達自己的需要。有人會在告別自己生命之前,安排「生前葬禮」,亦有人會舉辦「最後派對」,邀請家人、朋友出席,去回顧自己人生、同親友的生活點滴,開心、輕鬆地好好道別。 …更多 |
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晚晴訓練班 – 你了解嗎啡類藥物嗎?若心安 便是天晴 (只提供中文版本) 晚期病人可能因為病情而經歷不同的疼痛,例如骨痛、神經痛等。不少病人同家人對於使用嗎啡類藥物存有誤解,又擔心藥物會有副作用,因而抗拒使用。結果病人強行忍痛,承受住不必要的痛楚 ,病人可能會感到疲累、抑鬱、憤怒、孤獨等,亦會嚴重影響日常生活,例如無胃口進食、睡不好等等。其實只要適當地使用嗎啡類藥物,是可以 …更多 |
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晚晴訓練班 – 繪畫我的生命線 (只提供中文版本) 絕大部份病人當得知自己確診患有不可逆轉的疾病的時候,都會大受打擊,覺得自己跌落人生谷底,從此失去人生意義,甚至不知道如何爬起來。今次想同大家介紹一個簡單活動 — 繪畫生命線,希望可以引導晚期病人回顧生命重點,再次探索生命的意義,以及肯定自我價值。 …更多 |
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計劃係最好嘅選擇 – 在「安寧房」好好說再見 (只提供中文版本) 參與「安寧在院舍」計劃的院舍會按照病人同家人的意願以及實際情況安排病人在臨終前幾日入住「安寧房」,這間獨立房間的佈置就希望可以令人有家的感覺,感到舒服自在。「安寧房」裡面會具備一些醫療設備例如抽痰機、防壓瘡氣墊床等,亦會有護士24小時的專業支援,希望可以減低病人的痛楚 。 …更多 |
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計劃係最好嘅選擇 – 安寧在寧養院 (只提供中文版本) 之前都與大家分享過「安寧在家」以及「安寧在院舍」方面的資訊,其實,晚期病人除了有以上的選擇,還可以選擇在「寧養院」(或稱護養院/療養院) 過人生最後一程。在寧養院,每位晚期病人可以入住在不同類別的房間,除了會有醫生、護士和相關醫護人員作治療及醫療護理,例如傷口/造口護理、痛症紓緩等,亦有 …更多 |
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計劃是最好的選擇 – 插不插胃喉? (只提供中文版本) 故事主人翁陳念心婆婆,大家都稱她為心心,即使年過九旬,與患上心臟衰竭,個性樂觀的她總是說—「我好滿足於自己的人生」。心心婆婆有一兒二女,但隨著丈夫和兒子先後離世,她一度陷入精神困擾。她說慶幸有醫生、護士和社工,以及兩個對自己無微不至的孝順女兒,幫助她走出情緒深谷。即使她現在行動不便,視力下降和身體衰弱,心心婆婆依然心存感恩。然而,心心婆婆自患上晚期病後 …更多 |
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你若心安 便是天晴 (個案摘自賽馬會安寧頌「安晴 ‧生命彩虹」社區安寧照顧計劃) (只提供中文版本) 故事主人翁陳念心婆婆,大家都稱她為心心,即使年過九旬,與患上心臟衰竭,個性樂觀的她總是說—「我好滿足於自己的人生」。心心婆婆有一兒二女,但隨著丈夫和兒子先後離世,她一度陷入精神困擾。她說慶幸有醫生、護士和社工,以及兩個對自己無微不至的孝順女兒,幫助她走出情緒深谷。即使她現在行動不便,視力下降和身體衰弱,心心婆婆依然心存感恩。然而,心心婆婆自患上晚期病後 …更多 |
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Maintaining Patient’s Sense of Control and Autonomy at the End of Life: The Crux for a Better Ending
Most end-of-life patients inevitably rely on the physical care from their caregivers due to the decline of their functional ability. While caregivers strive to provide the best care they can in order to maintain the comfort and quality of life of the patients, the patients themselves may feel worried that they are a burden to others, which in turn undermines …Read More |
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Breathlessness
For people suffering from COPD 1 the quote above will sound all-too-familiar, as dyspnea, or breathlessness, is a common symptom experienced by COPD patients. Being short of breath is an unpleasant, scary feeling that can impact daily activities tremendously. People who are experiencing shortness of breath are …Read More |
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Pain Management: Music therapy To many people, music is an important part of their lives. One of the main reasons for the appeal of music is the positive effect that music can have on our well-being. This link between music and a patient’s well-being has been studied extensively, and dates as far back as 1914. In that year, Dr Evan Kane witnessed the positive effects of playing music from …Read More |
晚晴訓練班 – 「在家離世」會影響樓價? (只提供中文版本)
凶宅主要針對死於非命,即是他殺或者自殺的個案,而我們所說的「在家離世」是指在家裏自然離世的人士,個案一般都是長者,或者因身體機能衰退至不可逆轉的晚期病人。「在家離世」因屬安詳離世,不會構成凶宅的因素,地產經紀亦沒有辦法知道情況,樓價理應就不會受這個因素影響。而其實,能夠…更多 |
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晚晴訓練班 – 「平安三寶」 (只提供中文版本)
「平安三寶」,是指平安紙/遺囑、預設醫療指示以及持久授權書三份與預早計劃晚期生活有關的文件。 當中較多人聽過平安紙/遺囑,而對預設醫療指示及持久授權書就可能未必了解。事實上,如果遺囑訂立人仍然在生,只是失智,失去管理自己財政以及其他生活的能力時…更多 |
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晚晴訓練班 – 我會有遺憾嗎? (只提供中文版本)
一位照顧晚期病人多年的澳洲護士布羅妮·韋爾(Bronnie Ware),在整理病人臨終對生命的回顧時,發現好多病人都有相同的遺憾,而其中最多人提出的就是以下「人生五大憾事」…更多 |
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晚晴訓練班 – 我的生命故事書 (只提供中文版本)
每個平凡人都有不平凡的故事,都值得擁有一本獨一無二的傳記。 |
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晚晴訓練班 – 父親節就開口說愛 (只提供中文版本)
每年父親節和母親節,都會有不少慶祝活動,特別是母親節,相較之下,父親節氣氛感覺可能較為遜色。 |
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計劃係最好嘅選擇 – 討論「預設照顧計劃」的合適時機 (只提供中文版本)
「預設照顧計劃」對有嚴重病患的人士來說尤其重要,是讓病人、家人與醫護人員一起商討,當病人日後在病危時希望得到什麼的治療及照顧。在討論過程裡面,醫護人員會向病人及家人了解及確認病人的心願和照顧意願,還會提供專業意見,根據病人的最佳利益,一起謀求共識,為病人制定合適的晚期醫療及個人照顧計劃。至於何時是討論「預設照顧計劃」的合適時機?可以參考以下的建議:…更多 |
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計劃係最好嘅選擇 –「安寧在院舍」無問題! (只提供中文版本)
對於居住在安老院舍的晚期病人來說,院舍就等同於他們的家。很多晚期病人在最後的階段,都不想在冰冷的醫院渡過,而是希望可以留在他們熟悉而又舒服的家安心地離開。賽馬會安寧頌的「安寧在院舍」計劃,就是為末期病患院友而設的紓緩及臨終照顧服務,希望可以令他們美滿地走完人生旅程。目前…更多 |
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計劃係最好的選擇 – 立法推動「預設醫療指示」及「在居處離世」 (只提供中文版本)
全球疫情大爆發,在社區的晚期病人、患有長期病的長者和他們的照顧者如何面對社交隔離、生病、甚至離世呢?疫情早期,他們擔心口罩、消毒劑的供應;但隨著疫情的發展,他們就著覆診的安排、對病情和疫情的焦慮、在家照顧引致的壓力甚至衝突、社交隔離下的鬱悶、身體狀況有轉變時是否需要入醫院、入院後不能探訪、甚至有機會不能見最後一面等一籃子問題困擾…更多 |
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新型冠狀病毒病下的社區晚期病人照顧資源冊 (只提供中文版本)
全球疫情大爆發,在社區的晚期病人、患有長期病的長者和他們的照顧者如何面對社交隔離、生病、甚至離世呢?疫情早期,他們擔心口罩、消毒劑的供應;但隨著疫情的發展,他們就著覆診的安排、對病情和疫情的焦慮、在家照顧引致的壓力甚至衝突、社交隔離下的鬱悶、身體狀況有轉變時是否需要入醫院、入院後不能探訪、甚至有機會不能見最後一面等一籃子問題困擾…更多 |
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全面預設照顧計劃 (只提供中文版本)
新型冠狀病毒在世界各地肆虐,全球死亡人數在短時間激增,令人擔心死亡隨時在身邊發生。面對死亡過程,會牽涉很多照顧決定,但因對死亡的忌諱,很多家庭成員沒有為此溝通,以致到危急一刻,在壓力及情緒影響下,花很大力氣去尋求共識。香港食物及衞生局早在2019年9月作了有關預設醫療指示的全民諮詢,並與賽馬會安寧頌計劃合辦了…更多 |
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照顧心路 百感交集 (只提供中文版本)
照顧患有晚期疾病的家人絕對不是易事。照顧工作不單花時間、花心機,很多照顧者在照顧患病家人時都覺得身心俱疲。心情上,照顧者通常都會遇上一系列負面情緒,例如:憤怒、沮喪、抑鬱、無助、悲哀、焦慮、焦躁、寂寞、孤獨等等。一項於加拿大進行的研究發現 …更多 |
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讓死亡使我們走近 (只提供中文版本)
西方諺語說:要用一整個村莊(的人力物力)去養育一個小朋友 (it takes a village to raise a child)。我們會用一條村的人力物力去關懷晚期疾病的病人及家屬嗎?Allan Kellehear 教授在他的「提昇健康的安寧服務模式」中指出 …更多 |
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實現生前最後願望 (只提供中文版本)
Kees 是荷蘭一位救護車司機,他曾經載過一位正在接受紓緩治療的病人 Mario。Mario 曾是一位船員,他大半生都是海上渡過,他向 Kees 講他願意在死前做任何事情去看海及看鹿特丹港最後一眼。Kees 聽後非常感動,因此他決定載 Mario 去到鹿特丹市內的運河。數天之後, …更多 |
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人生,一個快樂的結局 (只提供中文版本)
多年以來,我們都被教導如何活得豐盛,及如何善用時間去造福人群;但我們並沒有太多機會談論臨終及死亡。法國歷史學者菲莉普.阿雷茲 (Phillipe Ariès) 寫了一本書《西方對死亡的態度》聚焦談論死亡,具有里程碑式的意義。該書仔細描述了由中世紀時期開始,人們如何理解臨終與死亡 …更多 |
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我的葬禮我話事 (只提供中文版本)
在生活中,我們計畫和準備很多東西。 學習、 職業和假期通通都掌握在手,但對於晚期的願望,即使心知重要,很多人卻毫無準備。最近,我認識了一位朋友,他身體健康,卻正在做一件不尋常的事 …更多 |
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什麼是安寧照顧 (只提供中文版本)
我們都知道生命有多麼寶貴, 也理解喪失親人的悲痛。和臨終病人一起的經歷更能讓人們意識到有尊嚴的死亡並不是一種奢侈,相反每個人理應享受。這就是當今“臨終關懷”理念的誕生和目的。 …更多 |
Does Cremation Become More Difficult in Hong Kong?
There were rumors that the government of Hong Kong would like to raise the cremation charge of the crematoria operated by the Food and Environment Hygiene Department (FEHD), from the current HKD1,220 to, eventually, HKD6,560 per case. This increase in cremation charges could …Read More |
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What Should You Do in the Last Months of Your Life?
For people suffering from advanced cancer or another terminal illness, the plethora of medical terms related to prognosis or treatment options, can feel really overwhelming. No matter how prepared someone feels for these type of conversations, or how well the disease and prognosis is understood. Living with an advanced illness is …Read More |