Palliative Care Room

[Paprikat]

At my LTC facility, they are considering constructing a palliative care room, that we can transfer patients that are dying into for privacy. My boss is wondering if we had any suggestions on how to design it, ie. colours, necessary items, etc. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations on how this room should be? Much appreciated.:)

[aimeee, BSN, RN]

What a wonderful idea! I think it should have a rocker for one of the seats. Rockers are wonderful for using some of that stress energy as well as having a soothing quality. A comfy recliner would be good too since there will be family members spending many hours at the bedside at a time.

Colors....well, I'm sure there is some research out there on that. I would think that deep greens and lighter minty tones would be soothing. Rosy tones are nice too.

[RN-PA, RN]

I agree, that is a wonderful idea. I wish we had one or two on our Med-Surg floor, but we try to let families whose loved one is dying have a larger private room if at all possible. And I agree wholeheartedly with the rocking chair and recliner ideas.

I would want some soothing pictures on the walls like Monet's beautiful Impressionism artwork (there are inexpensive posters of his work) or any landscape motifs. Some drapes or other window treatment would also be helpful. Also, if your facility has one side that has a nicer view out the window, the room could be located there.

Our hospital just recently instituted a 24-hour channel option on the T.V.'s of peaceful music with a running video of landscapes and nature settings, very helpful for our patients with dementia or blindness, and would be appropriate for palliative care, too.

[RN-PA, RN]

I just thought of something else: Lighting! Lamps on end tables with 3-way bulbs would be helpful, and good lighting can create a restful or stressful atmosphere. I wish there was a way we could have bedside lamps on our floor (no room, not enough electrical outlets for all the equipment! ) The overhead lighting is great for starting IV's or inserting foleys, but is otherwise so harsh.

[KatrinkaRN]

I work in a 21 bed hospice unit and we have handmade quilts for all of our rooms...the quilts help the rooms look less "institutionalized".

All the other suggestions posted are great too!

[nehi]

Hi,

i think pale blue and lavender would be nice colors. Also remember the kleenex, nice soft pillows and books for the families. It's a great idea.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

A dresser so family that is staying has a spot to put their stuff that is out of the way of nurses etc looking through the bedside table for medical supplies.

Another dresser to put medical supplies in so they are not sitting on a shelf- makes the room look less institutional.

A pull out couch could provide more sitting space than a recliner for day visitors and still give a sleeping space for nighttime.

Love the idea of lamps instead of overhead lighting.

Using one of the larger rooms would be good to accomodate large crowds of family, or locating the room close to a sitting area where people could go to decompress.

Nice to give family that stays overnight access to a fridge, microwave and shower, although the cost to put those in a private room might be too much.

[Paprikat]

Thank you so much for your input. Much appreciated.

[Agnus]

I'm not a hospic nurse YET. I noticed someone mentioned kleenex. One hospital in our area keeps a supply of ladies and mens hankeys. These are soo nice. The recepient is always grateful. It is permission to cry in a way kleenex is not. And they are soft = comforting. They are a nice peice of memorbelia for the recepient too. They are brought out only when needed so it makes it very special and personal.