Palliative care nursing in relation to people with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

One of the most rewarding tasks a nurse can ever perform is to support someone at the end of their life, and appropriate care and support at this time should be available to all who need this regardless of personal circumstances. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that personal factors (i.e. where you live, poverty, social class, gender, sexuality, age, ethnicity, religion and disability) can all affect the nature and quality of the palliative care received, and certain marginalized populations are likely to be perceived as 'disadvantaged dying'. People with intellectual disabilities are often regarded as a marginalized group, and never more so as when they are diagnosed with a life-limiting condition and as the end of life draws imminently closer. This article introduces the challenges faced by nurses caring for people with intellectual disabilities diagnosed with a life-limiting condition. The overall aim is to identify the inherent challenges involved so that they can be addressed from a practical perspective.