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SYMPTOMS FREQUENTLY SEEN IN HOSPICE CARE END OF LIFE SYMPTOMS PAIN Pain is common with the progression of many terminal illnesses. It is very individual and what works to ease pain for one person does not always work for someone else. Your care team is skilled at evaluating and treat- ing pain with both medicine and other modalities. You will hear them ask about pain very often. We want you or your loved one to be as comfortable as possible with the understanding that sometimes it is not possible to relieve all pain. During a pain crisis, it can sometimes take time to get proper pain relief as our practitioners must adjust medication doses methodically and safely according to evidence-based practice. Sometimes we use additional medications to help the pain medication work more effectively. It is important to note that spiritual and emotional concerns may also cause pain. The goal is to reduce pain to a tolerable level to improve the quality of life through interventions by our interdisciplinary team, whether that is medication administration from your nurse or emotional support from a Chaplain, Social Worker or Music Therapist. Four Seasons values life and does not use pain medications or any other treatment to shorten life.
COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF PAIN MEDICATION • Dry mouth • Drowsiness • Nausea WAYS TO TREAT PAIN WITHOUT MEDICINE • Changing position • Soothing music / Music Therapy • Warm or cool compress • Dim lights and low stimulation • Relaxation exercises • Let the patient rest, avoid asking questions or expecting conversation during this time • Itching • Constipation • Temporary confusion
SIGNS OF PAIN IN THE NON-VERBAL PATIENT Sometimes a patient is too drowsy or confused to give a verbal answer when asked about pain. When this happens, we look at other signs to determine pain such as: • Fidgeting, restless movements, pacing • Crying, moaning or frowning • Curling up, rocking back and forth or holding/ touching a body part • Acting cranky or irritable These signs by themselves do not necessarily indi- cate pain but can help your team determine what is bothering the patient. Please call for assistance if you are concerned about pain control. • Fast breathing • Furrowed brow
COMMON MEDICATIONS USED AT ELIZABETH HOUSE FOR PAIN Percocet, Oxycontin (oxycodone), morphine (both long and short acting), Dilaudid (hydromorphone), metha- done, fentanyl patches
FourSeasonsElizabethHouse.org
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Four Seasons Elizabeth House
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