Why I Wrote My New Booklet: PAIN AT END OF LIFE

In April of this year I did a webinar for Wellsky on pain at end of life. Pain management at end of life requires a different approach than pain management for someone who is going to get better. Not enough people, healthcare professionals included, understand this.

After the webinar, reviewing the response and the resulting questions I realized how very important this information is. Everyone needs to know what we had just spent an hour discussing, not just healthcare professionals but families faced with a loved one on hospice or in the hospital dealing with pain. I took my notes from the webinar and wrote a new booklet, Pain at End of Life.

In todays culture with the opioid crisis running rampant, fear of narcotic use is everywhere. That fear hinders our ability to provide appropriate comfort management and is leading to misconceptions about how hospice takes care of their patients. I hear way too often that “Hospice killed my mother by overdosing her with morphine”. Knowledge reduces fear and knowledge is very much needed when it comes to addressing pain at end of life.

I have learned over the years that talking with our families, teaching them about end of life care, medications, and pain management requires repetition. Repeat, repeat, repeat what we want them to know, understand and remember. THEN leaving written materials behind to be read and shared with others reinforces our teaching. The written word is the best way to insure our teachings are understood.

Using fifth grade level, large print, non medical terminology, Pain at End of Life addresses:

* pain as it relates to the dying process

* fear of overdosing and addiction

* standardized dosages

* around the clock administration

* laxatives

* uses of morphine

* sedation as it relates to dying

* supplemental therapies

Something More... about PAIN AT END OF LIFE

I am so excited to offer this educational booklet, I think it will make a difference. You may purchase it on my website: www.bkbooks.com

10 comments

Don

Barbara, my wife died almost 12 years ago after battling breast cancer for 3 years. Toward the end, Oxycodone, Fentanyl patches, and ultimately oral morphine were the order of the day, in increaasing dosages w/ hospice nurse approval. Addiction was not an issue for her as she was at the end of the trail, but I suppose that could be an issue for family/caregivers who have access to medications (it was not for me/us).

I was very grateful that something was available in those final days, and hope that the current addition concerns do not deprive dying patients of relief at the end of their lives. Thank you very much for your continued efforts to provide vital information for hospice patients, family members, and other caregivers.

Anne

Thank you, Barbara, for all you do.

Boots Few

Congratulations and many thanks for the new book Pain at End of Life.

The materials in your books have been educational and comforting to me for 16 years. That is why I purchase and share (e.g. give) your books to family, friends and individuals that I encounter who needed direction, comfort, and information at this difficult time.

Thank you

RONEE HENSON

EXCELLENT !!!!!

Joyce

Some of us who have had an experience with a NURSE PRACTITIONER who was afraid to prescribe morphine as recently as a month ago to someone on Hospice Care are still livid that the Medical Profession hasn’t yet caught up with what some Families DO know!!

This took place in the city of Columbia, Missouri— a Medical City sporting the University of Missouri Hospital, Barnes-Jewish-Christian Hospital, a satellite Hospital linked to the prestigious Barnes Hospital of St. Louis, MO, and the Missouri Veterans Hospital.

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