[Assistance for improving QOL of patients with terminal disease cared at home]

A visiting nursing service was provided for a female patient with the terminal stage of transverse colon cancer. The patient, who strongly wanted to stay at home, was discharged from hospital under continuous subcutaneous injection of morphine hydrochloride in late April 2001. The visiting nurse supported her life including the procedures for the continuous subcutaneous injection for attenuating pain as the main symptom. As a result, her fear of pain was reduced and she became able to control pain by oral medication. She became able to walk to the rest room and take a shower and have increased ADL while regaining the strength of will. Family members were concerned with the potential sudden change in her conditions or intensification of pain at home but the worry was contained by understanding the procedures to follow in such cases. QOL can be improved even at the terminal stage if: 1. the patient understand the pathological condition; 2. the patient discloses his/her worry; 3. the patient can choose the way of living; 4. caregiver can cope with the change; 5. caregiver can maintain the nursing capability; 6. the medical provider's assistance system is established.