The Emotional Side of Care: Psychosocial care bridges quality of care and quality of life.

摘要

During an onsite study of end-of-life care a few years ago, a researcher heard a comment from a nursing center resident that gave her a new perspective. She was part of a team collecting data in the center by interviewing residents, staff, and family members. She took a break to sit among residents watching TV and listened to their conversation. Then one of the residents asked her what she was doing there. After explaining that she was collecting information about resident experiences as end of life approaches, one of the residents said, "Why do we have to be dying to have someone interested in improving our lives?" Today, meeting residents' social and emotional needs in long term and post-acute care (LT/PAC) is considered fundamental in culture change and person-centered care. The providers that take a serious approach to meeting these needs embrace the time, space, and action needed to recognize and investigate changes in residents' emotional states. These changes may arise from a slight change in plans for the day or from a more dramatic change in life circumstances, which is common in LT/PAC. The rewards of such an approach play out in resident satisfaction surveys, a lower instance of complaints, and, most importantly, a higher quality of life.