When you or someone you love is diagnosed with a serious or advanced illness, life becomes overwhelming. There is so much to process. You’re not even sure where to go for help. Healthcare professionals start using words like treatment options, patient teams, palliative care, and even hospice. All you know for sure is that you or your loved one would like to remain at home.
That’s where at-home palliative care can help.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is the medical term for pain and symptoms management of a patient who is pursuing curative treatments. Its focus is on the quality of life for individuals who are diagnosed with a serious or life-changing illness. The priority of palliative care is the needs of the patient. A team of healthcare professionals works to manage a patient’s symptoms and pain, regardless of age or stage of illness. Palliative care services can be provided at different locations such as a retirement facility, a nursing home, or a private residence.
What is a Palliative Care Team?
Palliative care teams are made up of doctors, nurses, social workers, and other health care professionals. They coordinate with medical professionals involved in a patient’s care to make sure everyone is on the same page. Care teams are available from the point of diagnosis and treatment and can help patients understand their choices for medical care as they battle a severe condition.
What Does a Palliative Care Team Do?
A palliative care team works with patients to develop a care plan to improve their daily lives. They can coordinate transitions from a hospital to a nursing facility to home care. They keep a patient informed on their course of treatment and will speak with patients and their families about what to expect at each point in the illness. The care team can outline what will happen at various hospital and doctors’ appointments to ease any anxiety or stress. The following are some of the services an at-home palliative care team can provide.
Manage Symptoms
Individuals suffering from a serious illness often experience illness-related symptoms as well as side effects of treatment. Palliative care uses a team of medical professionals to find ways to relieve these symptoms. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to, shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, and nausea. The goal is to help people regain their strength so they can enjoy a better quality of life.
Manage Pain
Unfortunately, pain is often a part of a serious illness. It may or may not be chronic; there may be a sudden onset, and then the pain fades. Whatever the level of pain, palliative care helps manage the pain. Uncontrolled pain lowers the quality of life and may interfere with decision-making. That’s why palliative care works with patients from the very beginning to learn their wishes when it comes to pain management.
Manage Depression, Anxiety or Grief
Feeling depressed, anxious, or sad is not uncommon in individuals with a serious illness, especially immediately following the diagnosis. If feelings of depression continue beyond a few weeks, the palliative care team needs to know. Because depression is a serious disease and can impact anyone’s physical well-being, the palliative care team wants to ensure that help is provided.
Patients may experience illness-anxiety as they contemplate their life after a serious or advanced diagnosis. Some patients may feel anxious about how they will function, especially if they have limitations placed on their usual activities. They may feel a sense of loss if they can no longer participate in life as they once did. The care team works with patients and other healthcare providers to help alleviate anxiety and grief.
Suggest Adaptive Strategies
Lifestyle changes usually accompany serious illnesses. Some changes may be short-term, others of a more permanent nature. Whether it’s a different way of going upstairs or a simple change in routine, palliative care personnel are experienced in finding strategies to help people adapt to life with a serious illness. Just having someone available to help you or your loved one through uncharted territory can make the journey less stressful.
Address Social, Financial, Spiritual Concerns
When someone receives a life-changing diagnosis, the world seems to stop. Unfortunately, it does not. Coping with day-to-day concerns can seem impossible. Palliative care personnel can provide suggestions for social and financial matters. They can also find the right spiritual support if requested. Their goal is to make living with a serious illness as stress-free as possible.
Speak with Family
Letting those close to you or a loved one know about a serious illness can be stressful. A care team can reduce stress by speaking with the family about the illness and treatment options. Sometimes families have questions and concerns that they feel uncomfortable discussing in front of a loved one. Having a care team available to answer their questions and address their concerns creates a more positive home environment.
How to Get Palliative Care
Palliative care is available at any point in a life-changing illness; however, the earlier in the process, the more beneficial the care. If you or a loved one is facing a serious illness, you may benefit from palliative care. Contact Graceland Hospice Care for more information on palliative and hospice care and to determine the best path for you or your loved one.
