What is palliative care and when is it needed?
When you are diagnosed with a life limiting illness, thoughts will quickly turn to the sort of medical care you are likely to receive. You’ll hear terms such as ‘end of life care’, ‘palliative care’ and ‘hospice services’. But what exactly do they all mean and which will be most relevant to you as you move towards the end of your life?
Palliative Care
This is an umbrella term that covers any sort of care or treatment after a diagnosis. It can last weeks, months or even years, depending on the progression of your condition. Palliative care includes anything from medication and pain management to emotional support.
Palliative care takes an holistic approach, meaning it’s intended to look after every part of you. As well as treating physical symptoms, your palliative care team will also look after your psychological, spiritual and social wellbeing. It’s about maintaining a good quality of life and is intended to make you feel comfortable and fully supported on your end of life journey.
This type of care is something that accompanies other treatments being used to control a chronic illness, for example radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Palliative care does not include ‘life saving’ medical interventions, such as surgery.
Who is involved in palliative care?
Typically, all palliative care services are managed by your GP, with community nurses usually involved in the day-to-day care. A wider team of healthcare professionals may also be involved and will work together to coordinate the best package of care for you. This includes specialised consultants trained in palliative medicine, nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
Where can I receive palliative care?
If you’re living in a care home, the staff should be able to organise your palliative care. If you receive care at home, including live-in carers, they will be able to fulfil that role for you. Promedica24 offers a palliative live-in care service which ensures your needs are being met. As well as all the usual care, they’ll manage your medication and liaise with other healthcare agencies. A permanent point of contact means a real peace of mind at the time when you need it the most.
Friends and family
While palliative care is concerned with your wellbeing, it also extends to any family or friends who might be caring for you. They can also access services such as group therapy or individual counselling.
End of life care
Under the banner of palliative care comes the more time specific ‘end of life care’. This is treatment specifically centred around managing physical symptoms, such as pain relief. End of life care aims to allow you to live your final days, weeks or months in as comfortable and dignified a manner as possible.
How long is ‘end of life’?
End of life care can last days, weeks, months, or in some cases years. The NHS considers an individual to be approaching the end of life when they are likely to die within 12 months, although this isn’t always an easy thing to predict. A health care professional will usually consider the following criteria:
- Whether you have an advanced, incurable illness, including cancer or dementia.
- If you are in a generally frail state with co-existing, life-limiting conditions.
- You are at risk of dying from a sudden crisis related to your condition.
- You have an acute or life-threatening condition caused by a catastrophic incident, for example a stroke, heart attack or accident.
The moment has been prepared for
You have the right to decide where you would like to receive end of life care and spend your last days.
Many people will choose to do some advance care planning, creating a written document sometimes known as an advance statement. Anyone can help you write an advance statement, including relatives, carers, or health and social care professionals. The plan can be revised at any point, depending on how your situation changes. It’s often a good idea to include anybody closely involved in your care in your decision making as any plan will inevitably impact on their lives – and how they can help you.
Among the items commonly covered in an advance statement are where you’d like to be cared for, preferences for personal care and issues surrounding comfort, for example whether you like to sleep with the light on. The contents are not limited to treatment and care, they can also take into account any religious or spiritual beliefs you’d like respected. The form can even cover who you’d like to look after your pets.
Hospice care
The other major element of palliative care is provided by a hospice and can be accessed from the moment an illness is diagnosed as terminal through to your final days. The most commonly understood form of hospice care takes place in a dedicated building, with a team of specialised carers and medical staff. However hospice care is increasingly meaning being taken care of at home, with patients receiving regular visits from nursing and other medical staff.
A common misconception about hospice care is that it’s a place people go to die. But you can access a hospice at any point during your palliative journey for reasons such as pain management, breathlessness or as respite care. A typical stay in a hospice is around two weeks, and patients will often be sent home if symptoms improve.
Promedica24 provides palliative care in your own home, which like traditional hospice care can last for a minimum of two weeks. We offer our clients a tailored service, always respectful of an individual’s privacy and their need for a peaceful environment. That way you can make the most of those precious final days with friends and loved ones.
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