Welcoming relatives of patients in palliative care: A psychology contribution

Abstract

The World Health Organization defines Palliative Care as assistance promoted by multidisciplinary team, with purpose of improving the patient and relatives' life quality, before a life-threatening disease. The family has an important role in this process, since more than treating disease, the "Palliative Care" treats people. Psychology can act in the sense of supporting the patient and one's family, enabling a welcoming space for fears and anxieties, collaborating to the adequate participation of both in the illness process. This work's purpose is to describe the welcoming experience carried out to patients' relatives in Palliative Care. It is carried out at the Clinical Oncology Ward from Hospital Prof. Dr. José Aristodemo Pinotti – CAISM, by the Psychology team. It occurs through a spontaneous service search by the relative and/or patient, through referral by the multidisciplinary team or service screening, being made before and/or after death. It is observed that welcoming is a therapeutic listening space, which provides benefits to the relatives and patient, taking into account that it enables illness development and redefinition. We conclude that welcoming is necessary, since it makes the family relationship easier, promoting better communication and providing confrontation resources in the illness process.