Support and communication with

the family

Introduction • The palliative approach

• What has been your experience utilising the palliative approach?

Aims of this presentation• What is a family

• Cultural considerations

• The importance of communication

• Communication strategies

• Support structures for the family

• The importance of family in the palliative approach

• Barriers to effective communication

Module 1

What is family?

What is family?

• Defining family

• As a group develop a definition of family

What is family

• Consider a resident within your care. Who would they identify as family?

• What would you consider to be their family’s needs?

What is family

‘Family is who the patient says it is’

Module 2

Cultural considerations

Cultural considerations

The Guidelines identify 25% of permanent residents of RACF were born overseas

How is culture identified in your facility?

Consider residents you have cared for who were from a different culture to your own.

Identify the challenges to you, your facility, the resident and their family

Cultural safety

Write down actions that you consider could diminish or disempower the cultural identify and wellbeing of a resident and their family.

Identify how you could avoid, or at least minimise these practices.

Module 3

Communicating with the family

Communicating with the family

Identify why it is important to communicate with the family

Documenting family relationships

What is the importance of documenting family relationships?

Documenting family relationships

The genogram and ecomap

Why is support of the family important?

At the completion of the exercise ask participants how they felt playing their particular role.

Refer to the learning package and discuss how an ecomap can be used by the care team.

Barriers to communicating with the family

Discuss with participants barriers to communicating with the family

Module 4

Family support strategies

Family support strategies

Involving the family in decision making

Why is this important?

Family support strategies

Discuss how a family would be supported in your facility.

Identify barriers to providing effective support

Advantages in involving the family in care and decision making

• Trust

• Recognition

• A positive partnership

• Coping with separation

• Any issues around dissatisfaction with care can be addressed

• Reduced complex grief reactions

Involving the familyIdentify strategies for involving the family