Final answer:
In hospice care planning for a Parkinson's patient, the nurse should prioritize interventions that support the patient's and family's values and choices, such as including the children in the care planning, providing emotional support, and arranging home-based care. Transition to long-term care should be considered if needed, while respecting the family's preferences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hospice Care Planning for Parkinson's Disease
The nurse should prioritize supporting the patient's and family's values and choices in the plan of care for a 52-year-old father of four with rapidly progressing Parkinson's disease. Prioritizing home care, as per the patient's preference, is integral to hospice care, which focuses on comfort and quality of life at the end of life. The following interventions are essential:
- Including the children in planning their father's care to ensure that the family's needs and desires are met and to support family involvement, which has been shown to be beneficial for both the patient and family.
- Providing emotional support to the patient and family, helping them cope with the challenges of the disease and the approaching end of life.
- Ensuring all necessary medical and supportive care services are provided in the home to keep the patient comfortable and maintain as much independence as possible.
- Preparing the family for the potential of moving their father to a long-term care facility if necessary, while still respecting their values and choices.
Aggressively continuing to fight the disease process may not be in alignment with the goals of hospice care, which are comfort and quality of life, rather than cure or prolonging life at all costs. Hospice care is a compassionate choice that aligns with many patients' preference to die at home, surrounded by familiar faces.