[Palliative rehabilitation of two patients with terminal stage cancer: a visit to patient's home and the provision of advice by a nurse and rehabilitation staff members before discharge--from physical therapist's perspective].
We report two patients with terminal stage cancer who spent some days at their home after a physical therapist, occupational therapist, nurse, and medical social worker all visited the patients' homes and advised the patients' family in regard to the appropriate care before the patients were discharged as a strategy for palliative rehabilitation. Case 1: A patient suffering from terminal stage cancer was bed-ridden because of a pathological fracture of the femur. After palliative rehabilitation, the patient was able to get out of the bed and improved her daily living activity level through physical therapy. She spent some days at home according to the results of the pre-discharge home visit guidance to her family. Case 2: A patient suffering from terminal stage cancer manifested symptoms of fatigue and generalized muscular weakness. After palliative rehabilitation, her muscle strength and physical endurance were improved by physical therapy and adjustment of the bed height. Because she was eager to go home, we took her to her home before being discharged, and she was able to spend a few hours at home. Pre-discharge home visit guidance by a nurse and rehabilitation staff members to the patient' s family in regard to appropriate home care may therefore be a good means of satisfying such patients' desire to see their home once more and thereby improve their quality of life.
Kuhara
Satoshi
S
Department of Rehabilitation, University Hospital of Occupational and Environmental Health Japan, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu 807-8555, Japan.
Kakou
Hiroaki
H
Tokuo
Mika
M
Nogami
Michiko
M
Takemura
Jin
J
Hachisuka
Kenji
K
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D010166:Palliative Care; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D011788:Quality of Life; D013727:Terminal Care