The Goals of Palliative Care姑息关怀的目标

秦书未/译

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.

姑息关怀是一个十分敏感的话题。谈及绝症，很多人会感到不适与不安。好在教育对化解这些负面情绪往往非常有效，尤其是关于姑息关怀的目标和积极作用的教育。

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，我们整理出这篇简单易懂的指南，概述了姑息关怀的目标。详细内容请您参阅下文。

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.

姑息关怀的首要目的是让绝症患者拥有尽可能高的生活质量。这是一种高度专业化的医疗护理形式，旨在从生活的多个层面帮助患者，从疾病本身到患者的精神状况都要顾及。此外，姑息关怀也帮助患者亲属彼此沟通、共渡难关。

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：

一直以来，姑息关怀专家和服务机构都致力于满足患者及其亲属的多样化需求。实现许多个不同的小目标，有助于完成这个更大的核心任务。以下是姑息关怀的几个重要目标：

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.

大多数绝症会引起剧烈的躯体疼痛。在姑息关怀的过程中，患者与专业医护人员共同确定、使用临床方法，在医学水平能达到的范围内，尽可能地减轻疼痛和折磨。

Treating symptoms

治疗其他症状

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.

对于接受姑息关怀的病人来说，疼痛并不是他们面对的唯一症状——绝症往往伴随着身体出现种种状况。医务人员会尽力避免患者出现这些症状，或者力求减轻症状，再或者帮助患者适应症状。

Counselling and therapy

心理咨询和治疗

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.

对绝症患者来说，保持心理健康和治疗身体疾病一样重要。姑息关怀帮助患者应对悲伤，让患者通过心理疗法、艺术疗法和其他循证心理干预方法感受到生命的意义。

Assistance with living

协助生活

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、吃饭、洗澡等日常活动中给予患者帮助，能给他们的生活质量带来很大改观。绝症患者会因此感受到支持，也会活得更有尊严，姑息关怀的效果以及患者与亲属的体验也都将因此得到改善。

Patient mobility

保持活动能力

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.

确保患者保持能动、爱动的状态是姑息关怀的一个重要目标。护理团队会竭尽所能帮助患者保持身体活动，做低强度的运动也好，或者仅仅是从床上坐起来也好。

Connection

保持联系

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.

姑息关怀力求让患者和亲属、朋友、爱人，以及广大社会保持联系。研究表明，人们有强烈的归属感时，他们的身体状况更好，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.

医务人员和姑息关怀专科医生会确保患者掌握他们所需的信息，这些信息要以通俗易懂的形式呈现。这有助于患者就自己的治疗方案作出最佳选择，让患者掌握自主权。

Help for families and loved ones

关照患者亲属

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怀，在这个格外困难的时期，对患者家属和朋友给予支持至关重要。姑息关怀服务会让患者的家属和朋友实时了解患者的情况，并给他们提供所需的方法和支持，让他们得以成为绝症患者的坚强后盾。

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.

预见死亡临近是一种精神上的巨大挑战，其广度与深度皆难以估量。姑息关怀帮助患者努力找到生活的意义，在灵修和宗教活动中寻得安宁，可能是接受来自牧师的精神关怀，也可能是冥想、瑜伽。当然，哪种方法有用因人而异，但姑息关怀旨在为每一位患者寻求个性化的理想方案。

（译者为“《英语世界》杯”翻译大赛获奖者）