October 12 is World Palliative Care Day, an opportunity to highlight this reality and the people it affects. But what about the social discourse regarding these people who can no longer heal? Are we addressing the subject sufficiently and, above all, how do we approach it? It is often said that “talking about death does not make you die”, yet something seems to prevent us from talking about palliative care.
It is distressing to note that, according to recent studies, palliative care is not only a taboo subject for many Quebecers, but also that they have an erroneous understanding of what it really is.
Many still believe that palliative care means the imminent end of life, when in reality it is comfort care for people with serious illnesses who are no longer receiving curative care. We no longer try to cure these patients, but rather seek to relieve their symptoms to improve their quality of life.
Myths and prejudices
Beyond the lack of knowledge, there is another issue that casts a shadow over the reputation of palliative care in our society: the myths and prejudices that circulate. We associate palliative care with death, with terrible living conditions and above all… with fear. We imagine people bedridden, awaiting death in pain and without any dignity. We think of unhappy seniors, stuck in a hospital environment that does not always meet their needs, isolated and deprived of the comfort of home.
It makes people worried and uncomfortable, because they don’t want to have to think about the possibility that they or their loved ones might find themselves in this situation. What they don’t realize is that said situation varies wildly from one individual to another. Some can remain very active and continue to lead their lives normally, some receive their care directly at home, some will live only a few days after starting palliative care while, for others, it will be many years.
There is no timeline or instruction manual that applies to everyone, but access to palliative care tends to allow affected people to enjoy a better quality of life and live less. distress, showing that there can also be happiness and hope through illness.
Talk about it
Ultimately, dodging the subject is much more damaging than broaching it: while surveys reveal that more than half of respondents have never discussed palliative care with anyone, we see that the fact talking about it with those around you allows us to prepare and know how our loved ones want to be cared for and supported when they get there. There is therefore a crying need to open dialogue so that those concerned feel understood, listened to and valued.
Open the dialogue, yes, but how? The 14 member organizations of the Federation of the Albatros Movement of Quebec dedicate their efforts to supporting people in palliative care, but also to educating the population through training on what these people are experiencing and what everyone can do to provide them with support. .
Instead of avoiding thinking about it or talking about it, why not get to grips with palliative care by starting a discussion with loved ones or getting involved on a voluntary basis with sick people? No matter how we choose to go about it, one thing is certain: palliative care, we must dare to talk about it.
The team of the Federation of the Albatros Movement of Quebec.
