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¶ … Management of Chronic and Terminal Illness
For people dealing with chronic or terminal illness, stress levels can be very high. While that is to be expected, high stress levels only make things worse. Accepting the inevitable is easier on a person's emotional well-being, but it may take some time to get to that point (Taylor, 2005). If a diagnosis is new, denial is often the first emotion the person faces. He or she does not want to believe the sickness or the severity of it. After denial, there are other stages that a person usually works through, including bargaining, anger, and depression, before acceptance finally sets in and the person is able to get on with life as much as possible. Chronic illnesses can include things like diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, COPD, and other health problems (CDC, 2010). Many of these diseases are preventable, but they are not curable once they are acquired. They can only be managed.
Terminal illnesses are those that are chronic and not curable - and where treatment cannot prolong life past a...
When a person has an illness that is chronic, terminal, or both, that person's quality of life may be severely affected. In some cases, there is still a relatively high quality of life that can be maintained - at least for a period of time. If the disease is terminal it stands to reason that the quality of life will diminish over time until the person passes away from the disease. If the disease is chronic but not terminal, the person may have both good days and bad days. How he or she feels can fluctuate based on other factors, and also on the severity of the chronic illness itself (Taylor, 2005). The quality of life may decrease as the person ages, but that will not necessary be the case and can vary between different conditions.
Some chronic illnesses can be physically disabling, while others are more mental in nature. How a person is affected by a chronic or terminal illness varies by illness and also by the person. Personality type, support from family and friends, coping skills, and other factors come into play when…
References
Anderson, G. (2004). The growing burden of chronic disease in America. Public Health Reports, 119.
CDC (2010). Chronic diseases and health promotion. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/overview/index.htm
Taylor, S.E. (2005). Health psychology (8th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill
Provider Education for Chronic Pain Management Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the largest healthcare provider in the United States and one of the largest in the world. In fact, fully half of the physicians in the United States receive their training at a VA healthcare facility. This paper provides a description and explanation of the complex health care system to provide a framework for enhancing VA medical support
Healthcare Plan for the Management of Genitourinary Disorders Objective of this paper is to carry out a care plan for the patient, aged 60 years, who is suffering from genitourinary disorder. The study carries out the case evaluation and identifies the symptoms of the patient complication. The study also provides a comprehensive healthcare plan used for the treatment of the patients. Case Study Evaluation HPI (History of Present Illness). Evaluation of the case study
Rather than giving over control to medical experts to cure disease, the dying person is empowered by the interdisciplinary team of hospice practitioners to guide and direct the time that remains." Noted as a serious challenge that is faced by hospice practitioners is that associated with "the legal option of choosing death." (Miller, 2007) Miller additionally reports: "A lethal dose of medication can be obtained (within guidelines) by a
In the case of Mrs. Thomas, her condition is made worse by unique challenges to include: dealing with her own health issues, loneliness, financial worries and anxieties over her husband's depression. These difficulties are making Mrs. Thomas' condition more severe. As she must be concerned about: these problems and her quality of health. These issues are impacting her physical and mental well-being. To deal with these challenges, an all-encompassing approach
Inpatient psychologists would also possess a more in-depth knowledge of the specific treatment the patient was undergoing, and be able to tailor the treatment plan to the illness. According to the American Psychological Association in a bulletin specifically addressed to patients suffering chronic illnesses: "A qualified psychologist can help you build the emotional resilience necessary to navigate the difficulties of chronic illness. Working with your physician and other specialists,
End-of-Life Health Care Imagine this scenario: a patient has end stage heart failure, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sleep apnea. She has refused any invasive treatments for many years, ignoring potential consequences, and has opted for medical management. She has an advance directive stating her preference for no cardiopulmonary resuscitation, no artificial hydration or nutrition, and only desires comfort measures to allow for a