Self-care for physiotherapists in palliative care

Supporting patients to live well at the end of life provides physiotherapists with a high level of meaning and personal satisfaction. However, it can also present a challenge to maintaining our own emotional health and wellbeing. Working in palliative care confronts our own mortality and is accompanied by factors such as the experience of multiple loss, dealing with strong emotions and addressing multiple complex patient and carer needs.
Grief over the death of people in our care is not unusual and may contribute to stress or burnout.