Nursing Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Nursing, including details on health care, hospital staff, professional care.

Dispelling myths about palliative care and older adults.

Duggleby W, Raudonis BM

College of Nursing, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. wendy.duggleby@usask.ca

OBJECTIVES: To explore the myths about palliative care and older adults with cancer. DATA SOURCES: Research literature and review articles. CONCLUSION: Several myths about older adults exist: older adults are the same as younger adults, older adults are all the same, and optimizing function and quality of life are not important outcomes. Little research has focused on older adults receiving palliative care and their families. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: The Oncology Nursing Society and Geriatric Oncology Consortium published the Joint Position Statement on Cancer Care in Older Adults acknowledging the unique needs of older adults with cancer. Application of this statement may be helpful in guiding inquiry and practice in the care for older adults receiving palliative care.

Published 6 February 2006 in Semin Oncol Nurs, 22(1): 58-64.
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