Palliative care in chronic psycho-geriatrics: a case-study.

Abstract

In this case-study the relevance of psycho-social interventions for providing palliative care in the terminal phase of life of psycho-geriatric patients with functional-psychiatric co-pathology is described. The know-how, interventions and facilities such as available in a reactivation unit in a 'psychiatric-skilled' Dutch nursing home, were highly relevant to tune palliative care to the needs and abilities of the patient. The application of the four main-dimensions of the method of Dynamic System Analysis (particularly Cognitive functions, Psychological functions, Social context and Biology) can stimulate professionals to use an integral perspective both to the psycho-social needs of terminal psycho-geriatric patients and their relatives and to the biological aspects. To establish the value of the DSA method for providing palliative care to psycho-geriatric patients with functional-psychiatric co-pathology scientific research is recommended to determine the prognostic profile of patients who benefit most from an actual palliative care program.