Palliative care is a special type of medical care for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing relief from symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Palliative medicine is provided by a team of doctors, nurses, and other specialists. They work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support and pain management. Palliative care service is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness. It can be provided along with curative treatment.

Many people think palliative care is only for end-of-life situations, but you can actually receive palliative care at any point in your illness. The earlier you start, the more it can help.

When to Consider Palliative Care

Palliative care should be considered when someone is diagnosed with a serious illness. This could be cancer, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, or many other conditions. You don’t have to wait until the illness is in its final stages.

Some signs that it might be time to consider a palliative care service include:

  • Frequent hospital visits or admissions
  • Difficulty with pain management or other symptoms
  • Feeling overwhelmed by your illness
  • Needing help understanding your situation and making medical decisions

It’s important to remember that asking about palliative care doesn’t mean you’re giving up. You can continue to receive treatment for your illness while getting palliative care.

Benefits of Early Palliative Care

Starting palliative care early can have many benefits. It can help manage symptoms like pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and nausea. This care can improve your quality of life and help you stay more active.

Early palliative care can also help you understand your illness better. The team can explain your treatment options and help you make decisions about your care. This can reduce stress and anxiety for you and your family.

Research has shown that early palliative care can even help some people live longer. A study of patients with advanced lung cancer found that those who received early palliative care lived almost three months longer than those who didn’t.

Who Can Offer Palliative Care

Palliative care is usually offered by a team of specialists. This team might include:

  • Doctors who specialize in palliative medicine
  • Nurses with training in palliative care
  • Social workers
  • Chaplains or spiritual advisors
  • Nutritionists
  • Physical therapists

Your regular healthcare provider can also provide some palliative care. They might manage your symptoms and help coordinate your care. But for complex situations, they might refer you to a specialist palliative care provider.

How to Ask for Palliative Care

If you think you or a family member might benefit from palliative care, don’t be afraid to ask. You can start by talking to your regular doctor. Ask them if palliative care might be helpful in your situation.

Many people don’t quite know how to ask for help, especially in situations like these. Don’t stress about justifying it or giving a ton of reasons, you can just simply ask if there is a palliative care team available to you. 

You could say something along these lines:

  • “I’m having trouble managing my symptoms. Do you think palliative care could help?”
  • “I’m feeling overwhelmed by my illness. Is there a palliative care team that could support me?”
  • “My symptoms are getting very uncomfortable and hard to deal with. Is there a palliative care team I can work with?”

If your healthcare provider doesn’t bring up palliative care, it’s okay to ask about it yourself. Many doctors wait for patients to express interest before suggesting palliative care.

Palliative Care in Different Settings

Palliative care can be provided in many different settings. You don’t have to be in the hospital to receive it. Some common settings include:

  • Hospitals: Many hospitals have palliative care teams that can see you while you’re admitted.
  • Outpatient clinics: You can visit a palliative care clinic as part of your regular medical care.
  • At home: Some palliative care teams can visit you in your home.
  • Nursing homes: Many nursing homes offer palliative care services.

The setting that’s right for you will depend on your needs and preferences. You can discuss this with your healthcare team.

Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care

It’s important to understand the difference between palliative care and hospice care. While both focus on comfort and quality of life, they are not the same thing.

Palliative care can be given at any stage of a serious illness. You can receive it along with treatments aimed at curing your disease. There’s no time limit on how long you can receive palliative care.

Hospice care, on the other hand, is for people who are nearing the end of life. It’s usually offered when a person is expected to live six months or less due to a terminal illness. A hospice team focuses on comfort care rather than curative treatment.

Overcoming Barriers to Palliative Care

Despite its benefits, there are sometimes barriers to receiving palliative care. These can include:

  • Lack of awareness: Many people don’t know what palliative care is or when to ask for it.
  • Misconceptions: Some people think palliative care means giving up hope.
  • Limited availability: Not all hospitals or communities have palliative care teams.
  • Insurance issues: Some insurance plans may not fully cover palliative care services.

If you face these barriers, don’t give up. Talk to your healthcare team about your options. They may be able to help you overcome these challenges.

The Future of Palliative Care

Palliative care is a growing field. More and more hospitals and healthcare systems are recognizing its importance. In the future, we may see palliative care become a standard part of treatment for serious illnesses.

There’s also a growing focus on training all healthcare providers in basic palliative care skills. This could help more patients receive this important care, even if they don’t have access to specialist palliative care teams.

As our population ages and more people live with chronic illnesses, the need for palliative care is likely to increase. By understanding when and how to seek palliative care, you can ensure you or your loved ones get the support you need.

Remember, palliative care is about living well with a serious illness. It’s not about giving up hope. It’s about adding an extra layer of support to help you live your best life, whatever challenges you may face.

We at Inhomecare.com hope to help you and your loved ones. Visit our site and take the first step toward a safer, more independent future today!