Living well with a serious illness : a guide to palliative care for mind, body, and spirit
(New Books)

Includes resources, bibliographical references (pages 177-199) and index

"Robin Bennett Kanarek was a registered nurse working with patients suffering from chronic medical conditions when her ten-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia. As her son endured grueling treatments, Robin realized how often medical professionals overlook critical psychological, emotional, and spiritual support for people with life-threatening illnesses. Living Well with a Serious Illness is the culmination of decades of Robin's work to advance the field of palliative care. Although palliative care is often associated with hospice and end-of-life planning, Kanarek argues for a more expanded definition that incorporates palliative care earlier in patients' journeys. Living Well with a Serious Illness helps patients and their caregivers understand: what palliative care entails ; how to access the support they need when going through a serious illness ; what questions to ask medical professionals ; how to navigate advanced care planning ; definitions of common terminology used with end-of-life planning ; the importance of spiritual care, coping strategies, and emotional support ; how to become an advocate for palliative care. This book illuminates the importance of seeing patients as individuals who can benefit from care for their body, mind, and spirit -- the core tenet of palliative care."--Publisher description.