Explain how staff could empower Angela [6]
To ensure that Angela feels empowered, staff would have to provide inclusive person
centered care. For instance as Angela has children, the treatment she receives for her
breast and liver cancer, if she would require appointments, would have to be tailored around
her ability to attend them. This is essential as if Angela was unable to attend the
appointments because she had to look after her children, her condition would deteriorate
and this would make Angela’s self esteem decrease too which in turn would make it difficult
for her health to improve. Angela would also have to be informed by the staff how her new
treatment would be given and any precautions she would need to understand prior to
receiving the treatment. Therefore, if the staff provide effective knowledge about this, she
would be able to provide consent and if she can, she would also be able to make her own
decisions which would increase her confidence and promote her dignity and independence
because she would be informed about the treatment method. To ensure that Angela has a
high level of self-image, staff would also need to make sure that Angela’s beliefs are taken
into account. For instance, if Angela was against a certain form of treatment or medication
because she could believe it’s unethical, the staff would need to work collaboratively with
Angela to select the best suitable treatment for her as an alternative. Therefore, this would
make Angela feel more accepted and would additionally promote her own rights because
she would have a say in how her care is carried out.
Discuss the possible advantages of hospice care for Angela and her family [8]
One advantage of hospice care for Angela is that it would allow for her to be around health
and social professionals almost all the time, meaning that in case Angela experiences an
emergency, she would be able to seek support from those who have adequate knowledge
and they would be able to provide further guidance. For instance, if Angela started to receive
new treatment for breast and liver cancer, the health professionals would be able to regularly
monitor her condition and if she experiences any side effects. Angela could also report on
how she is feeling, which would allow for effective communication on both ends. As the
hospice care is run by volunteers, they would be able to put in place activities which could
help Angela and her family to stay active. For instance, there could be a programme where
all of the patients meet and form a peer group where they could interact with each other and
support each other whilst playing tennis or discussing their concerns. This would increase
Angela’s self-esteem and make her feel more empowered because she would have
individuals who could be experiencing the same conditions as her, making her less worried.
The hospice care could also support Angela’s family through offering respite care. For
instance, because the family may have constantly been concerned about Angela’s health, if
the hospice care provides activities for Angela, the family may have time away, which could
decrease the additional amount of stress that they could be going through. Therefore, this
would also make Angela happy that her family is being supported and as a result Angela
could partake in other forms of treatment such as contemporary treatment. The hospice care
could also offer funding where instead of being at the centre, she could go back to her
family, during the critical months of her life. Therefore, a cancer specialist could visit Angela
to address any difficulties that she may be experiencing, which would in return provide
reassurance for both Angela and her family.
