Last Wednesday, PPCS had the pleasure of hosting an educational talk titled “Comfort First – Right Approach and Nutrition in Palliative Care”. In addition to our volunteers and staff, over 40 participants attended, consisting of patients’ family members and friends, professional caregivers from nursing homes or care centres, and members of the public.
The first session was led by Mr Calvin Chong (Certified Dementia Care Skills Educator), who explained the differences in sensory processing in older adults and introduced the hand-under-hand technique for a positive approach through experiential activities. This was followed by a session with Ms Yeoh Chai Yen (Registered Dietitian) which highlighted safety and ease of access for foods that support self-feeding. She also provided practical tips on preparing simple, nutrient-dense meals from a dietary perspective.
We thank both speakers for sharing their expertise with lively interaction throughout the talk and hope that all who joined have gained more knowledge and empathy in order to better support the individuals they are caring for.
The PPCS medical team constantly puts in effort to equip themselves with knowledge & skills in order to improve the services we offer. Recently, they participated in a physiotherapy training session conducted by the experienced staff at Physiofit Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Centre, who demonstrated techniques and also answered questions regarding the use of physiotherapy to help patients under our care.
In the context of palliative care, physiotherapy treatment plays its part in optimising a person’s functioning ability, enabling him/her to regain or maintain physical independence. By doing so, personal autonomy is preserved which contributes to quality of life.
On the 14th of November, the PPCS medical team participated in a Palliative Care Workshop at Hospital Fatimah Ipoh. This full-day event was open to all nurses and doctors.
Members of our team helped to conduct a few sessions, including “A Day In The Life of a Palliative Care Nurse”, “Common Symptom Management in Palliative Care”, and a Practical Session on Cancer Pain Control for Nurses.
Thank you to Hospital Fatimah Ipoh for hosting and we hope that the knowledge shared was beneficial to all who were involved. It is our aim to continue educating healthcare workers about palliative care, giving insight and promoting best practices for providing holistic support to patients and their families.
Pada 21 Januari 2025, Dr. Jasdeep Singh Gill, Pakar Perunding Psikiatri dengan pengkhususan dalam Psikiatri Usia Tua dari Hospital Fremantle, Perth, Australia Barat, menyampaikan sebuah ceramah di Dewan Serbaguna PPCS. Ceramah ini telah menarik pelbagai peserta termasuk pengamal penjagaan paliatif dari Pertubuhan Rawatan Paliatif Manjung, pengamal perubatan am, doktor PPCS, jururawat, sukarelawan, dan ahli jawatankuasa pertubuhan.
Pembentangan Dr. Gill memberi tumpuan kepada cabaran emosi dan psikologi yang dihadapi oleh pesakit, keluarga dan kakitangan perubatan dalam penjagaan paliatif. Berdasarkan kedua-dua penemuan penyelidikan dan pengalaman peribadinya, beliau menekankan kelaziman gangguan mood, seperti keresahan dan kemurungan, dalam kalangan pesakit paliatif. Terutama, hampir satu perempat daripada semua pesakit paliatif dan separuh daripada mereka yang mempunyai penyakit serius mengalami keadaan tersebut.
Beliau menekankan bahawa gangguan mood sering nyata sebagai gejala fizikal, termasuk keletihan, insomnia, anoreksia, dan rasa mengantuk, yang boleh menyebabkan kurang diagnosis dan rawatan yang tidak mencukupi. Dr. Gill mengadvokasikan pemeriksaan rutin untuk gangguan mood pada pesakit yang mengalami pelbagai gejala fizikal, sambil menekankan bahawa intervensi awal adalah penting. Gangguan mood yang tidak dirawat boleh menguatkan sensasi badan, menghalang pengurusan gejala yang berkesan, dan berpotensi membawa kepada keadaan psikiatri sekunder, seperti kemurungan major.
Dr. Gill juga membincangkan pendekatan berasaskan bukti untuk menguruskan cabaran tersebut. Terapi Tingkah Laku Kognitif (CBT) telah menunjukkan hasil yang berpotensi dalam menangani gangguan mood dalam tetapan penjagaan paliatif. Beliau mengesyorkan gabungan ubat antidepresan, psikoterapi sokongan, dan pendidikan pesakit dan keluarga sebagai sebahagian daripada pelan rawatan yang komprehensif. Selain itu, beliau menekankan potensi manfaat terapi komplementari, seperti urutan aromaterapi, yang didapati berguna di beberapa tempat, walaupun penyelidikan lanjut diperlukan untuk menilai sepenuhnya keberkesanannya.
Ceramah ini menekankan kepentingan menangani kesejahteraan emosi dan psikologi di samping gejala fizikal dalam penjagaan paliatif. Dengan berbuat demikian, para pekerja kesihatan boleh meningkatkan kualiti hidup pesakit dan keluarga mereka dengan ketara di samping melindungi daya tahan emosi mereka sendiri dalam bidang yang mencabar ini.
Pembentangan Dr. Gill merupakan peringatan tentang pendekatan holistik yang diperlukan dalam penjagaan paliatif, menekankan keperluan untuk belas kasihan, intervensi awal, serta kerjasama antara pelbagai disiplin untuk mengemudi landskap emosi dan psikologi yang kompleks dalam penjagaan akhir hayat.
Artikel oleh Dr. Ziaudin Ahamed, Pengarah Perubatan PPCS.
