Overview
What is trauma-informed care?
Many older people have experienced significant adversity across their lives - abuse, neglect, war, displacement, institutionalisation, racism, grief and loss. These experiences do not disappear with age and may influence how a person responds to illness, care and end-of-life support. [1-2]
A trauma-informed approach promotes safety, dignity, trust and comfort throughout deterioration and end-of-life care.
A different question
Trauma-informed care asks 'What has happened to this person?' rather than 'What is wrong with this person?'
Why it matters in palliative care
As people approach the end of life they often experience loss of independence, increased dependence on others, reduced mobility, cognitive changes, increased personal care needs, and fear and uncertainty. These experiences may trigger previous trauma responses and increase distress, anxiety and behavioural escalation.[3]
- Loss of independence
- Personal care needs
- Cognitive changes
- Fear and uncertainty
- Reduced mobility
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Safety
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Dignity
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Trust
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Comfort
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Person-centred care
- Recognise: Understand how trauma affects responses and behaviour in older people.
- Respond: Adapt communication and care practices to minimise distress.
- Resist re-trauma: Actively avoid re-traumatising through care actions and interactions.