Abstract
As people age, they experience life-altering events, such as serious illnesses, that can create a sense of hopelessness and lead to a loss of meaning in their lives and in the lives of their families. Often, patients and families may find themselves in a state of despair, finding it difficult to cope. Clinicians who provide care to older adults in any care setting can play a critical role in restoring order to devastated patients and families. In this article, the author provides his perspective on creating both empathy and a compassionate presence and describes a methodology for building the cognitive and emotional foundation for a physician-patient relationship and a framework for shared decision-making.
Original language | English (US) |
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Journal | Clinical Geriatrics |
Volume | 21 |
Issue number | 10 |
State | Published - 2013 |
Keywords
- Compassionate care
- Compassionate presence
- Empathy
- shared decision-making
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology