The Goals of Palliative Care姑息關懷的目標

秦書未/譯

Palliative care is a highly sensitive topic. The subject of terminal1 illness can make many people feel uncomfortable and anxious. The good news is that education is often very effective in helping overcome those negative feelings， especially when focused on the aims and positive outcomes of palliative care.

姑息關懷是一個十分敏感的話題。談及絕癥，很多人會感到不適與不安。好在教育對化解這些負面情緒往往非常有效，尤其是關于姑息關懷的目標和積極作用的教育。

To help you learn more， weve put together this straightforward guide outlining the aims of palliative care. Read on for a detailed explanation.

為了便于您了解更多，我們整理出這篇簡單易懂的指南，概述了姑息關懷的目標。詳細內容請您參閱下文。

The central purpose of palliative care is to give individuals with terminal illnesses the best possible quality of life. It is a highly specialised form of medical care that seeks to help patients across multiple dimensions of their lives， from medical issues to matters of the spirit. As well， palliative care helps families and loved ones of patients to cope and connect.

姑息關懷的首要目的是讓絕癥患者擁有盡可能高的生活質量。這是一種高度專業化的醫療護理形式，旨在從生活的多個層面幫助患者，從疾病本身到患者的精神狀況都要顧及。此外，姑息關懷也幫助患者親屬彼此溝通、共渡難關。

At all times， palliative professionals and services work to meet the multiple needs of patients and their loved ones. To achieve this， many different goals help fulfil this larger overarching mission. Some of the critical aims of palliative care are：

一直以來，姑息關懷專家和服務機構都致力于滿足患者及其親屬的多樣化需求。實現許多個不同的小目標，有助于完成這個更大的核心任務。以下是姑息關懷的幾個重要目標：

Pain management

疼痛管理

Most terminal illnesses cause significant physical pain. In palliative care， people work with professionals to find and use clinical methods to reduce pain and suffering as much as medically possible.

大多數絕癥會引起劇烈的軀體疼痛。在姑息關懷的過程中，患者與專業醫護人員共同確定、使用臨床方法，在醫學水平能達到的范圍內，盡可能地減輕疼痛和折磨。

Treating symptoms

治療其他癥狀

Pain isnt the only symptom palliative patients will face—theres often a raft of2 physical symptoms that go along with terminal illnesses. Medical professionals strive to avoid these problems， diminish their severity or help a person adapt to them.

對于接受姑息關懷的病人來說，疼痛并不是他們面對的唯一癥狀——絕癥往往伴隨著身體出現種種狀況。醫務人員會盡力避免患者出現這些癥狀，或者力求減輕癥狀，再或者幫助患者適應癥狀。

Counselling and therapy

心理咨詢和治療

Psychological wellbeing is as crucial as physical treatment for those suffering from a terminal illness. Palliative care helps people deal with grief and find meaning through psychotherapy， art therapy and other evidence-based psychological interventions.

對絕癥患者來說，保持心理健康和治療身體疾病一樣重要。姑息關懷幫助患者應對悲傷，讓患者通過心理療法、藝術療法和其他循證心理干預方法感受到生命的意義。

Assistance with living

協助生活

Assistance with daily activities such as dressing， eating， and washing can make a big difference to the quality of life. Those with terminal conditions can feel supported and live with dignity， improving outcomes and experiences for them and those close to them.

在穿衣、吃飯、洗澡等日常活動中給予患者幫助，能給他們的生活質量帶來很大改觀。絕癥患者會因此感受到支持，也會活得更有尊嚴，姑息關懷的效果以及患者與親屬的體驗也都將因此得到改善。

Patient mobility

保持活動能力

A major aim of palliative care is ensuring a person remains mobile and active. Care teams will do all that they can to help patients maintain physical movement， whether thats gentle exercise or simply sitting up in bed.

確保患者保持能動、愛動的狀態是姑息關懷的一個重要目標。護理團隊會竭盡所能幫助患者保持身體活動，做低強度的運動也好，或者僅僅是從床上坐起來也好。

Connection

保持聯系

Palliative care strives to keep people connected with their family， friends， loved ones and wider society. Studies show that when people feel the richness of belonging， they do better and feel better.

姑息關懷力求讓患者和親屬、朋友、愛人，以及廣大社會保持聯系。研究表明，人們有強烈的歸屬感時，他們的身體狀況更好，心情也更愉快。

Understanding

告知信息

Medical professionals and palliative specialists ensure people have the information they need in an easy-to-understand format. This helps them to make the best decisions about their treatment options and maintain autonomy.

醫務人員和姑息關懷專科醫生會確保患者掌握他們所需的信息，這些信息要以通俗易懂的形式呈現。這有助于患者就自己的治療方案作出最佳選擇，讓患者掌握自主權。

Help for families and loved ones

關照患者親屬

Its crucial that the family and friends of palliative care residents are given support in what is an exceptionally difficult time. Palliative services help family and friends make sense of what is happening and equip them with the tools and support they need to be there for their loved one with a terminal illness.

患者住院接受姑息關懷，在這個格外困難的時期，對患者家屬和朋友給予支持至關重要。姑息關懷服務會讓患者的家屬和朋友實時了解患者的情況，并給他們提供所需的方法和支持，讓他們得以成為絕癥患者的堅強后盾。

Spiritual support

精神支持

The prospect of death is a spiritual challenge of unfathomable scope and depth. Palliative care helps people grapple with the meaning of things and find peace in spiritual and religious practice. Sometimes that can mean pastoral care with a priest， meditation or yoga. Of course， what each person finds spiritually helpful will differ， but palliative care is about finding what is satisfying for the individual.

預見死亡臨近是一種精神上的巨大挑戰，其廣度與深度皆難以估量。姑息關懷幫助患者努力找到生活的意義，在靈修和宗教活動中尋得安寧，可能是接受來自牧師的精神關懷，也可能是冥想、瑜伽。當然，哪種方法有用因人而異，但姑息關懷旨在為每一位患者尋求個性化的理想方案。

（譯者為“《英語世界》杯”翻譯大賽獲獎者）