According to reports, chronic diseases are responsible for almost three-quarters of all deaths in the US. Even though it's a leading cause of fatality, most of us aren't prepared for the implications and care requirements of chronic illness in its later stages.
Palliative care helps patients and their loved ones as they suffer through serious illnesses and life-limiting conditions.
What is palliative care, and how can it help you and your loved one? Keep reading to find out.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is a specialized approach to healthcare that focuses on providing relief from pain and symptoms associated with serious illnesses. It is not limited to a specific age group. It can be offered to patients of all ages, including children, adults, and seniors.
Palliative care is often confused with hospice care, but they are not the same. Hospice care is specifically for individuals in the last stages of life.
Palliative care can begin at any stage of an illness. The focus is on managing symptoms and improving quality of life.
Palliative care is provided by a team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, social workers, and counselors. These professionals work together to address not only the physical symptoms of a serious illness but also the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the patient.
The goal of palliative care is to enhance comfort and provide support not only to the patient but also to their families.
Understanding the Benefits of Palliative Care for Seniors
Palliative care can have numerous benefits, both for patients and their families. These include the following.
Improved Quality of Life
One of the primary benefits of palliative care for seniors is the significant improvement in the quality of life. Seniors suffering from serious illnesses often experience physical discomfort, emotional distress, and a loss of independence.
Palliative care addresses these challenges by providing thorough support. Including pain management, psychological counseling, and coordination of care. This comprehensive approach can alleviate pain, reduce anxiety and depression, and enhance overall well-being, enabling seniors to lead more fulfilling lives.
In fact, study results have found that seniors who received palliative care experienced higher satisfaction with their care and reported better quality of life compared to those who did not receive such care. By focusing on holistic support, palliative care aims to enhance the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of seniors' well-being.
Better Symptom Management
Seniors with chronic or serious illnesses often experience a range of distressing symptoms. Such as pain, nausea, anxiety, and fatigue. Palliative care addresses these symptoms through effective management techniques.
A palliative care team develops a personalized symptom management plan tailored to the individual's specific needs. This plan may include medication adjustments, physical therapy, alternative therapies, and counseling.
By actively managing symptoms, palliative care allows seniors to have better control over their health. It can also reduce their reliance on emergency room visits and hospital stays. This comprehensive approach to symptom management not only improves overall comfort but also promotes better overall health outcomes.
Family Support
Serious illnesses not only impact the patient but also their families. Palliative care recognizes this and provides emotional and psychological support to family members. The care team works closely with family members to:
- Address their concerns
- Answer questions
- Offer guidance during difficult decision-making processes
Palliative care programs often provide counseling services and access to support groups for families. These resources help family members cope with the challenges of caregiving, navigate complex medical information, and process their own emotional and psychological well-being.
By offering support to both patients and their families, palliative care helps create a more supportive and caring environment for everyone involved.
Services Offered by Palliative Care Programs for Seniors
Palliative care can include a range of medical and senior care services. Here are some of the main components of palliative care.
Pain and Symptom Management
Palliative care programs prioritize proactive pain and symptom management to alleviate discomfort. The care team assesses and addresses the physical symptoms experienced by the patient. Including pain, shortness of breath, nausea, and fatigue.
They work collaboratively with the patient to develop a pain management plan. This plan takes into account any side effects of medications and individual preferences.
Palliative care may also include complementary therapies. Such as massage, acupuncture, or counseling to address emotional and psychological symptoms.
The focus is on tailoring the treatment plan to the individual's specific needs and preferences. This ensures a personalized and effective approach to symptom management.
Emotional and Psychological Support
Coping with a serious illness can take an emotional toll on seniors and their families. Palliative care recognizes these challenges. It offers emotional and psychological support through counseling services and access to support groups.
Counselors trained in palliative care provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals to express their concerns, fears, or any emotional distress they may be experiencing.
Through counseling, seniors and their families can explore coping strategies. They can discuss end-of-life wishes and address any emotional or existential questions that may arise.
Care Coordination
Palliative care teams work closely with the patient's primary physician as well as any specialists involved in their care to ensure coordinated and comprehensive care.
Care coordination is essential in palliative care. Patients with serious illnesses often have complex medical needs that require ongoing communication between healthcare providers.
Care coordination may involve arranging appointments, facilitating communication between different providers, and ensuring that all aspects of the patient's care are being addressed. The palliative care team acts as a central point of contact for both the patient and their family, offering guidance, information, and support to navigate the healthcare system.
Are You In Need of Palliative Care Services?
Palliative care is a valuable resource for seniors and their families who are navigating the challenges of serious illnesses. By focusing on improving quality of life, managing symptoms, and providing comprehensive support, palliative care enables seniors to live comfortably and with dignity.
For more information contact our Sonora CA office
