Effective Communication Strategies for Palliative Care of Aboriginal Older Adults with Terminal Illness

Running Head: COMM
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Communication
student
9/17/2019

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In different health care setting nurses plays a key role in developing a healthy therapeutic
relationship with the patient. It can help in improving the recovery process and to gain the
complete support of a patient in the assessment and treatment. To be a effective nurse, effective
communication skills are necessary (Caffery et al., 2017). The ability of nurses to communicate
and connect with the patient and other healthcare provides can prevent different healthcare errors
and provide high quality health care to the patient. Effective communication allows nurses to
have enough knowledge about the different cultures of diverse communities like Aboriginal and
Torres Strait islander people (Hole et al., 2015). In this particular essay different strategies of
effective, respectful interaction with the aboriginal older adults and their family who has been
detected with terminal illness like cancer. The role of nurse in interaction with the Aboriginal
patient and their family will also be mentioned.
A terminal illness health condition which cannot be treated and is probable to lead to
patent’s death. It is occasionally termed a life-limiting illness. There are some illnesses which are
terminal for example advanced malignancy, dementia, motor neuron disease, lung illness,
neurological illness like Parkinson’s, and advanced cardiovascular disease. Older adults with this
type of illnesses may life for days, weeks, months or years (Williams et al., 2016). The patient
living with terminal illnesses is likely to get treatment and care which emphasis on managing the
disease symptoms and maintaining the quality of life, this is called palliative care. Effective and
respectful communication is the essential part of the palliative care. Individuals with terminal
illness and their families might find they require different types of practical assistance or
emotional support at different point throughout the illness course, and effective and respectful
communication can help the nurses to provide such care to them (Kelly et al., 2018).

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There are some effective and respective strategies that can be helpful are: The adverse
impacts of the racial and financial disadvantages and a series of previous government policies,
counting segregations, dislocation and children separation has contributed to the mistrust held by
the people of Aboriginal community towards the government facilities and system. Therefore
nurses must understand their condition and address their problems by showing empathy (Keech
et al., 2016). People with terminal illness experience high levels of depression, anxiety and
stress, therefore showing empathy can provide additional emotional support and enhance a
patient’s believe in the health care setting. Empathy is different form sympathy; it is about
putting yourself in patient’s shows or situation. To understand their condition and responding to
them by using some appropriate words like “Yes, I can understand your situation” (Durey et al.,
2017).
In order to understand someone’s situation more effectively, active listening is essential
as it make the patient feel that the listener really wants to hear about the situation and concerned
for him or her. The people receiving palliative care for a terminal illness often have a lot to say
about what they are feeling. The nurse must listen to the patient carefully and give them enough
time to explain their situation (Gluyas, 2015). The nurses must lean forward and make eye
contact when having conversations with the patient. Active listening includes listening with all
senses. In addition to giving complete attention to the patient, it is essential that the nurse is also
seen to be listening - or else the patient might determine that what they are speaking about is
uninteresting to the health professional. Interest can be showed to the older patient by using some
verbal and non-verbal signals for example maintaining eye contact, nodding the head and
smiling, approving by saying ‘Yes’ or just ‘Mmm hmm’ to inspire the older adults to continue
(Nayebi & Majd Teymouri, 2015).