What is Palliative Medicine?
Understanding Palliative Medicine
Palliative medicine, also called palliative care, is a newer senior care option in our area that is becoming well-known for delivering specialized medical care for individuals with serious illnesses. While the focus of this type of care is symptom relief and stress reduction, the overall goal is to improve the quality of life for the patient and their family.
Palliative care is not a curative treatment, but it can be used alongside curative options. Medical treatments and supportive guidance are part of the experience, focusing on understanding the patient’s prognosis and providing relief from pain and emotional distress.
Who Can Benefit from Palliative Care?
Anyone who is living with a serious illness may benefit from palliative care. If you have a loved one with a serious disease such as cancer, heart disease, kidney failure, a lung disease like COPD, dementia, or another significant condition, having a specially trained team can improve their care.
When facing a life-threatening illness, the physical symptoms must be managed, but there are a lot of emotional issues that can come along with diagnosis and treatment, as well. Patients who do not qualify for a hospice program may qualify for help from a palliative care team, which can provide excellent medical treatment, pain relief, and much more.
Palliative care options are also available for patients who are not facing a life-threatening situation but who are still seriously ill. Patients with curable illnesses at any stage can work with a palliative care specialist to learn how this kind of support may benefit them. Since palliative care improves quality of life, both children and adults may be offered treatment options.
Is Palliative Care the Same as Hospice?
Palliative care providers and hospice care providers are not the same, and the care they give is different. Typically, hospice care is offered to patients who are dying and who cannot be cured. Palliative care, on the other hand, is available for those who can be cured and those who cannot, as it is a different type of medical care.
This type of care may start at the time of diagnosis or may wait until the patient’s prognosis or symptoms have changed. If you have a loved one who needs palliative care, working with palliative care teams to help both the patient and their family members have a quality of life can help everyone handle the emotional, mental, and physical issues that come from facing a serious illness.
What Does a Palliative Care Team Look Like?
As an extra level of support, a palliative team of trained specialists coordinates care with your loved one’s primary care physician and specialists. Palliative medicine offers a consultative service in both an inpatient (hospital) or outpatient (i.e., home or assisted living) setting so your loved one can focus on getting the right treatment plan right where they are.
The right consultative service provides an added layer of support for a patient and family. That support depends on exactly what kind of care your loved one needs most to improve their quality of life and keep them as comfortable and healthy as possible.
Because of that, a palliative team can include physicians, physician’s assistants, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and pharmacists who work alongside the patient’s hospital, primary care physician, and specialists.
Services offered through palliative care providers most often include symptom management, medication reconciliation, and advance care planning. Visits occur typically every 4-6 weeks, but that can vary depending on the specific situation your loved one is in and which palliative care services they need most.
Where is Palliative Care Provided?
Palliative care specialists can work with patients in a variety of settings. Whether your loved one is in the hospital, an assisted living facility, or at home, there are options for inpatient and outpatient care. Facing a serious illness can look different for everyone, and it is especially important to get the right type and level of care.
An inpatient palliative physician focuses on symptom management and “goals of care” (GOC). The clinical diagnoses will be communicated to the patient and family while seeking clarification of the patient’s priorities so everyone involved understands goals and expectations. Advanced care planning (ACP) will also be discussed so the best care options can be presented.
Outpatient palliative medicine is like inpatient; however, the team visits your loved one where they are (at home or assisted living). The main goals are still the same, though: to make sure your loved one feels as well as possible and has a good quality of life.
Palliative care specialists understand the discomfort of severe illness and work to provide comfort and relief to everyone in their care. Meeting specific patient needs while also helping the family members is a big part of the value of a palliative care team.
What Types of Support Does Palliative Care Provide?
If you have a loved one who is eligible to receive palliative care for their symptoms, including pain, help with daily life tasks, or other treatments, you should know that there are plenty of good options for support. While physical symptom relief is a big part of palliative care, it is not the only consideration.
Emotional and mental well-being also matter, as treating these areas is another way to improve the quality of life for someone with a serious illness. There are often spiritual advisors on a palliative care team, along with doctors, nurses, and social workers, to provide an extra layer of support needed by many patients.
From doctors medicating distressing symptoms such as trouble sleeping to other providers who can provide a healing touch, answer questions, or aid in decision-making, palliative care helps patients and families of people with serious health conditions.
When is the Right Time for Palliative Care?
The right time for palliative care depends on the needs of the specific individual, their symptoms, how much pain they are in, and other factors. Working with your loved one’s doctors can help you understand the seriousness of the illness and the options that may help your loved one feel more like themselves again.
Palliative care can start at diagnosis or can come into play later in the course of a disease. No matter your loved one’s age or the stage of their illness, though, they may benefit from a care team that has their well-being in mind.
Talking to your loved one about how they are feeling and the tasks they may need help with opens the conversation. That can give you essential guidance to consider other specialists, an advance directive, advice from other doctors, and more to help your loved one continue to thrive.
Does Your Loved One Need Palliative Care?
Depending on the kind of illness your loved one has and the type of symptoms they are experiencing, palliative care may be right for them. Generally, anyone with a serious illness may be a candidate for this care, as it can provide them with ongoing support. There is no time limit for how long someone can receive palliative care.
CarePatrol is here to help you find the right senior care options for you or a loved one in your life. With local senior care advisors nationwide, help is just a phone call away. At no cost to you, our advisors review your needs and the services available in your area and pair you with the best option. Find a CarePatrol Local Senior Care Advisor today.