Palliative care is an area that occupational therapy can address to help a person embrace and prepare for the end of their life. As a person lives, engagement in life occupations provides meaning and fulfillment as relationships are developed and goals are achieved. When the concern for death becomes apparent, palliative care medicine facilitates a meaningful progression to the end of life. Occupational therapy can help explore life roles, facilitate communication, promote legacy work, and offer outlets to move toward a feeling of peace with their life ending. This work is precious, and is meant to provide a good death, as the end of a good life. It can provide opportunities for families and close friends to explore and celebrate, review, and process the life shared with the person facing the end of life. Legacy work can include writing letters, sharing pictures, making items, cleaning out cherished items, preparing memorial services, and many other outlets.
Occupational therapy can also provide home assessment and adaptive equipment training to improve safety for the patient and caregiver in the event mobility becomes difficult with disease progression. This could include bathing safety education/training, energy conservation training, or work simplification for the person or caregiver.
Whole Life Therapy Services Palliative Care Services:
- Consultation with patient
- Facilitation of patient’s goals
- Fabrication of memory quilt or memory pillows available
- Fabrication of hand molds available
- Home assessment for equipment needs for decreased mobility
- Caregiver training as needed as care needs increase for patient
- Palliative manual lymphatic drainage massage for comfort, reduction of swelling, pain relief
