Background
Theoretical foundations and concept of GPC
Geriatric medicine
Geriatric Medicine | Geriatric Medicine is a specialty of medicine concerned with physical, mental, functional and social conditions in acute, chronic, rehabilitative, preventive, and end-of-life care in older patients. (European Union of Medical Specialists 2008 [43]) |
Palliative Care | Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual. (World Health Organization 2004 [1]) |
Ethics of Care | The ethics of care builds relations of care that highlight the deeper reality of human interdependency and the need for caring to surround liberal autonomy. It provides a way of reflection in order to develop morally acceptable human relations and societies. (Adapted from “The Ethics of Care”, Oxford 2006 [44]) |
Geriatric Palliative Care | Geriatric Palliative Care integrates the complementary specialties of geriatrics and palliative care to provide comprehensive care for older patients entering the later stage of their lives, and their families. (adapted from “Geriatric Palliative Care”, Oxford 2014 [20]) |
Palliative care
Ethics of care
Geriatric palliative care
Some major challenges of GPC
Exemplary strategies in GPC
Conclusions
Summary
-
Geriatric Palliative Care (GPC) is a field of inter-specialty collaboration unifying competences from geriatric medicine and palliative care to respond to the socio-demographic changes and challenges of older adults with severe and life-limiting conditions.
-
Main challenges of GPC include clinical research in frail and cognitively impaired patients, healthcare decision making including advance care planning, and coordination of care.
-
An approach based on the ethics of care and practical wisdom is required in order to help health care professionals deliver care that responds to the needs of this particularly vulnerable group of patients and their families.