Palliative Care
Palliative care is a specific field in the medical industry that focuses on pain management. This is often most beneficial for those suffering from chronic illnesses that have no immediate solution in place. The goal of palliative care is to make the person as comfortable as possible and ease symptoms to improve quality of life. This is often done with a full team of medical professionals who can cover every aspect of the illness, such as the family, medical providers, social workers, mental health professionals, families, and any other support circle members.
Palliative care can be life-changing for those suffering from intense symptoms and serious illnesses. It not only provides a good support system for clinical team members but gives valuable resources on how to be as pain-free as possible when living with a chronic condition. It often is a multi-disciplinary approach that is person-centered, meaning it is focused on how the individual feels and what they want in place.
Some of the more common diagnoses for those who receive palliative care include, but are not limited to:
- Cancer of any type
- Congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Memory conditions, such as Alzheimer's, Dementia, or Parkinson's
- COVID-19
- Any other long-term chronic disorder or condition
- Stroke
- Liver Disease
Those seeking palliative care often have long periods where they are in pain or discomfort. There may be symptoms like shortness of breath, anxiety, exhaustion, loss of appetite, depression, and/or other symptoms. This can be stressful and tiresome. With home health care and palliative care, families can find they have extra support in their chronic pain journey. This can include having home care staff in the home for assistance with housekeeping tasks and appointments or a home nurse who can assist with clinical tasks such as diagnostic tools or medication management.
Palliative care is not the same as hospice care. Palliative care aims to help manage chronic pain for individuals and improve their quality of life. Hospice is specifically for those diagnosed with end-of-life conditions. Hospice is for those who are not responding to regular treatments and have a terminal illness that is expected to terminate life in approximately six months. Hospice often has more resources at its disposal that can be used as a last resort but are only intended for the end of life. Palliative care is for any stage of life or any stage of the disease. This type of care is intended to increase the comfort and quality of life of those in pain.
If you or your loved one deal with a chronic condition and may benefit from palliative care, contact us today to discuss how we can help. Our team of educated and compassionate staff will be happy to provide you with more information on our services, including how we can customize services to your needs. Our company prides itself on quotes and costs for what you exclusively need to keep medical care simple and effective.
Popular Questions
Hospice care focuses on a person's last six months (or less) of life. When it is determined that a cure is no longer an option, the hospice care team comes in to make the patient's remaining life as comfortable as possible by addressing physical symptoms and distress as well as emotional and spiritual issues. Palliative care, while also aiming to manage symptoms and enhance comfort and quality of life for patients, can be delivered concurrently with aggressive therapies and therapies that are aimed at cure. It can be delivered at any stage of life.
A palliative care team may include specialist nurses and doctors, social workers, religious or spiritual leaders, therapists, or nutritionists, among other professionals. Your team may vary depending on your needs and level of care.
People living with a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease, lung disease, or kidney failure, may experience emotional or physical pain related to their illness. If you’re having trouble coping with this pain, palliative care may be right for you.