Palliative Care is more than End-of-Life Care.Â
It’s about improving quality of life at any stage of serious illness. Palliative Care supports physical, emotional and spiritual needs, and can benefit people:
- of any age
- in any setting
- even while receiving other treatments
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Palliative Care is specialized care to provide comfort and dignity for the person and the family living with the illness. If the illness is advanced, the goal is to offer the best quality of life for everyone involved. A multidisciplinary team, including doctors, nurses, social workers, and therapists, collaborates to provide comprehensive care tailored to the individual’s needs and helps patients and families navigate complex medical decisions.
Some examples that involve palliative care include:
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Cancer
- Dementia
- Parkinson’s
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Chronic pain
- Any life-limiting illness that can limit your quality of life and/or ability to do active daily living care or events
Hospice is a form of Palliative Care
Hospice Care is offered to people suffering from a terminal illness approaching their last six months of living. In hospice, a specialized medical team provides care only to those with terminal conditions.
Hospice also means that while a person receives care to ensure comfort and improve quality of life, pain management, and emotional support for patients nearing the end of their lives, treatment for the illness is not provided.
Hospice Care can be provided at home, in hospice facilities, or in hospitals, depending on the patient’s preference and circumstances.
Palliative Care
Palliative Care is continuous care for people living with a serious illness like the ones listed above. It aims to improve quality of life and is often used alongside curative treatments.
Palliative Care can be provided throughout the course of a serious illness, starting from the day of diagnosis. A palliative care team works with the patient, their family, and their healthcare providers to develop a plan that addresses medical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Palliative Care is most effective when started at the very beginning of treatment for an illness or at a medical diagnosis. In fact, recent studies have shown that beginning palliative care as early as possible in the course of a disease, improves outcomes for patients and can even lengthen their lives.
Both Hospice and Palliative Care provide an extra layer of support and comfort care to a patient suffering from a serious illness. Both forms of care are designed to respect a patient’s independence, ease pain and other symptoms, and advocate for a person’s illness, quality of life, and spiritual wishes.
In navigating conversations, understanding the distinctions between Palliative Care and Hospice Care is pivotal. Palliative care provides comprehensive support at any stage of a serious illness, focusing on symptom management and improving the patient’s quality of life. Hospice care is reserved for individuals with a terminal prognosis, prioritizing end-of-life comfort and dignity.
It is vital to communicate your preferences and treatment goals with your healthcare team and loved ones. Seek professional guidance from healthcare providers, social workers, or counselors to make well-informed decisions about the most appropriate care option based on the patient’s medical condition and personal values.Â
These conversations, while challenging, can ultimately lead to more compassionate and person-centered care.
