Understanding Palliative Care: What It Is and What It Isn’t
fgarati
May 18, 2023
Palliative care is a term that’s often thrown around in discussions about end-of-life care, but many people don’t fully understand what it means or what it entails. Contrary to popular belief, palliative care isn’t just about pain management and making individuals comfortable in their final days. Instead, it’s a comprehensive approach to care that’s focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illnesses.
Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments, and it’s intended to improve the quality of life for both the person and their families. In this article, we’ll explore what palliative care is, what it isn’t, and why it’s such an important component of support for those facing serious illnesses. Whether you’re a healthcare provider, a person in need of palliative care, or a loved one of someone who’s dealing with a serious illness, understanding palliative care can help you make informed decisions about care and support.
Table of contents: Understanding Palliative Care: What It Is and What It Isn’t
Palliative care is an interdisciplinary approach to care that’s designed to improve the quality of life for people facing serious illnesses. It’s an approach that focuses on relieving symptoms, reducing stress, and improving overall well-being for individuals and their families.
Palliative care can be provided at any stage of an illness, and it can be provided alongside curative treatments. The goal of palliative care is to help you and family achieve the highest quality of life possible, regardless of the stage of illness.
Palliative care is provided by a team of healthcare professionals who work together to provide a comprehensive approach to care. The team may include physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other healthcare professionals who specialise in palliative care. Together, the team works to address your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs and that of your family.
Palliative care is not just about end-of-life care. It’s an approach to care that can be provided at any stage of an illness, and it’s intended to help you and family achieve the best quality of life possible.
Goals of Palliative Care
The goals of palliative care are to improve the quality of life for patients and their families, to relieve symptoms, and to reduce stress. Palliative care is intended to be person-centred and to address you as a whole person, not just the illness.
The goals of palliative care may include:
– Managing symptoms such as pain, nausea, and fatigue
– Improving communication between you, the family, and healthcare providers
– Providing emotional and spiritual support to you and family.
– Helping you and the family to navigate complex healthcare systems
– Providing support and counseling for caregivers
– Improving overall quality of life.
Palliative care is intended to be a comprehensive approach to care that addresses your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs including that of the family.
Misconceptions About Palliative Care
There are many misconceptions about palliative care, including the belief that it’s only provided at the end of life or that it’s only for individuals with cancer. In reality, palliative care can be provided at any stage of an illness and for person with a variety of conditions. Palliative care is not just about administering pain medication or making you comfortable in the final days. It’s a comprehensive approach to care that’s intended to improve your quality of life and that of the family..
Another misconception about palliative care is that it’s the same as hospice care. While hospice care is a type of palliative care, not all palliative care is hospice care. Hospice care is intended for individuals who are nearing the end of life and who are no longer receiving curative treatments. Palliative care, on the other hand, can be provided alongside curative treatments and can be provided at any stage of an illness.
Palliative Care Team
Palliative care is provided by a team of healthcare professionals who work together to provide a comprehensive approach to care. The team may include:
– Physicians who specialise in palliative care
– Nurses who specialise in palliative care
– Social workers who provide emotional and social support to you and your family.
– Chaplains who provide spiritual support
– Other healthcare professionals who specialise in palliative care
Together, the palliative care team works to provide a comprehensive approach to care that addresses your physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
Types of Palliative Care
There are several different types of palliative care, including:
– Inpatient palliative care: This type of palliative care is provided in a hospital or hospice setting. It’s intended for individuals who require more intensive care and support.
– Outpatient palliative care: This type of palliative care is provided in an outpatient setting, such as a clinic or doctor’s office. It’s intended for you if you are able to live at home but who require additional support.
– Home-based palliative care services: This type of palliative care is provided in your home. It’s intended if you prefer to receive care in your home environment.
– Paediatric palliative care: This type of palliative care is provided to children with serious illnesses. It’s intended to address the unique needs of children and their families.
No matter what type of palliative care is provided, the goal is always to improve the quality of life.
Who Can Benefit From Palliative Care
Palliative care can benefit anyone who is facing a serious illness, regardless of the stage of illness. Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments, and it’s intended to improve the quality of life.
Palliative care can also benefit caregivers and family members who are providing care for someone with a serious illness. By providing emotional and spiritual support to caregivers, palliative care can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
How to Access Palliative Care
If you or a loved one could benefit from palliative care, talk to your General Practitioner (GP). Your healthcare provider can refer you to a palliative care team or specialist. There are also many community-based programs that provide palliative care services such as Truworth Care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is palliative care, and how does it differ from hospice care?
Palliative care is a medical model that focuses on pain and symptom management, as well as emotional and social support. It can be accessed from the day of diagnosis onward and can help improve quality of life and extend longevity. Hospice care, on the other hand, is provided in the last six months of life.
What is the goal of palliative care, and how can it improve the person’s life?
The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for those facing serious illness and their families. Studies have shown that it can improve a person’s quality and quantity of life in conjunction with other treatments. Access to a palliative care team is critical for people who are suffering, especially if they have multiple layers of issues to deal with.
How do caregivers view palliative care, and what are some common misconceptions about it?
Many caregivers have questions about palliative care, and there is a lot of confusion around the concept.
What challenges does the healthcare system face in providing palliative care to all those who need it?
The availability of palliative care is limited, especially outside of hospital settings. The limited supply of palliative care clinicians is also a challenge for the number of people in need. Increased demand for palliative care will create more capacity for it in the healthcare system.
References
American Cancer Society. (2021). Understanding palliative care: What it is and what it isn’t. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/palliative-care/what-is-palliative-care.html
Hospice Foundation of America. (2021). What is palliative care? Retrieved from https://www.hospicefoundation.org/hospice-care/what-is-hospice-care/what-is-palliative-care/
National Institute of Nursing Research. (2014). Frequent Asked Questions About Palliative Care. Retrieved from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/frequently-asked-questions-about-palliative-care
Palliative Care Australia. (2023). What is Palliative care? Retrived from https://palliativecare.org.au/resource/what-is-palliative-care/
