Impact of Life-time Illness on an Individual Issues 2022

Module – 2
Thinking Point 2
Impact of life-time illness on an individual
Life-time illness can affect a person both physically and emotionally. Various factors
contribute the psychological disturbance in an individual are the fear of hospitalization,
economical burden, medical procedures, complications of illness and fear of death in some
cases. Emotional disturbances can reflect with identical signs and symptoms. An individual
suffering from emotional pain may show, fear, anxiety, anger, and irritable mood. Chronic
illness can impact the person affected and the family. The impact of life-limiting illness
differs based on age, culture and religion. A younger person with a life-limiting illness would
worry about the family and children. An older person with life-limiting illness worries about
pain and death. People from certain religious background believe that life-limiting illness is
caused due to the result of karma which may affect social life (Mazanec, & Panke, 2015).
Cultural impact on the life-limiting illness significantly affects the person. Common cultural
belief about life-limiting illness among the Australian population is speaking about the illness
and death can bring that soon. (Peterson et al. 2014 pp - 136-148).
Life-limiting illness significantly affects a person’s daily routine. The disease and the related
therapy may consume the time of the day. It can also affect the job of an individual. The
normal life span can be reduced by lifetime illness and related complications. Chronic illness
may need regular doctor visit and extra cost for the regular treatment. Physical illness can
cause mental illness like depression, stress disorder and anxiety disorder. Life limiting illness
can impact the family relationship and also the communication among the family members
(Golics et al. 2013 pp- 787–798). The general health of the person is significantly affected
and also impacts the sleep which may lead to further complications. Social life is drastically

disturbed due to chronic illness and increases the financial burden as the age increases. The
regular holiday or vacation planning is affected by life-limiting illnesses.
Understanding spiritual needs
Thinking point 1
a) Spirituality is the belief of omnipotent power which is superior to oneself. Most of the
global population believes in spirituality. Sense of spirituality benefits humans in many ways.
Spirituality ensures the feeling of a positive relationship with the omnipresent and omnipotent
God which can encourage an individual to pursue a new plan in life. It also improves the
confidence of an individual. Spirituality is believed to be the guide for life and helps an
individual to realize the purpose of life. Spirituality encourages a person to be compassionate
and improves the quality of emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing of an individual.
Spirituality helps the person to balance the emotional issues of life and promote the spiritual
belief of an individual, family and society.
b) The nurses are the front line health care professional who works closely with the in-
patients. The nurse needs to understand the physical and emotional changes caused by the
lifetime illness. The nurse has to ensure person-centred nursing care for the patient and
family as the family is also significantly affected by the chronic illness of the patient (Katz, &
Johnson, 2016). Major psychological issues of an individual with chronic illness are fear,
anxiety and depression. The nurse has to educate the patient about the disease condition and
related lifestyle modification. The nurse has to provide psychological and spiritual support
for the patient. The nurse must acquire an emphatical approach in the process of counselling
the patient. The nurse has to possess the quality of advocacy when the patient undergoes a
process of chronic illness.
Thinking point 2
a) Assess spiritual issues