What Is Palliative Care?

Oct 18

Key Takeaways:

Symptom Relief: Palliative care focuses on managing things like pain, nausea, and tiredness. It creates custom plans to make patients feel more comfortable.
Early Start: Patients can start palliative care at any time during their illness. This helps them understand their illness, manage treatments, and reduce stress early on.
Organized Care: Palliative care teams work with different experts to make sure patients have a smooth treatment plan and can make smarter decisions.

In this article, we’ll define palliative care, and discuss who benefits from this service. We’ll also learn about the role of technology in palliative care, and share tips for finding the right palliative care service for you and your family.

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Understanding Palliative Care

Definition And Goals

Palliative care is special medical care that helps reduce the symptoms and stress of serious illnesses. It aims to make life better for patients by treating their physical, emotional, and social needs. This care goes beyond just treating the illness, focusing on the patient's overall comfort and health. It helps patients and families feel less stressed and make smart decisions.2

How Palliative Care Differs From Hospice

Hospice care is for patients nearing the end of life, but palliative care can start at any stage of a serious illness. It can be given at the same time as treatments meant to cure the illness, so patients can get symptom relief and emotional support while still trying to get better. Unlike hospice, palliative care doesn't require stopping treatment and supports patients throughout their illness.

The Interdisciplinary Care Team

An interdisciplinary care team is a team of doctors who work together to provide complete care. This team includes doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other experts. They all bring their skills to meet the patient's different needs. By working together, they create a care plan that covers everything from pain treatment to mental health and spiritual needs.

Complete Support For Patients And Families

Patients and families get full support with symptom control, counseling, and planning for future care. Symptom control helps with pain, nausea, tiredness, and other symptoms to improve daily life. Counseling offers emotional support to help deal with the illness's stress and challenges. Planning for future care helps patients and families make medical decisions that are in line with what the patient wants.

Who Benefits From Palliative Care?

Patients With Long-Term Or Serious Illnesses

People with serious illnesses like cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, and brain disease benefit from palliative care. It helps manage tough symptoms and side effects, such as pain, nausea, and tiredness. Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life and providing support throughout the treatment process, helping patients make better decisions and live more comfortably.2

Patients At Any Age Or Stage

Palliative care is not just for end-of-life situations; it can start at any time during an illness, even while treatments are happening. New patients get help understanding their illness, while those with long-term illnesses find relief from physical symptoms and emotional stress. This care allows people to receive expert support early, continue getting help throughout their illness, and enjoy a better quality of life.

Families And Caregivers

Families and caregivers often feel stressed and uncertain when caring for a loved one with a serious illness. Palliative care provides counseling, education, and resources to help them provide care in the best way possible. It helps with their emotional and daily life challenges, allowing them to offer warm care while staying healthy and stress-free.

Healthcare Companies

Healthcare companies benefit from offering palliative care. By managing patients' Companies that provide custom care plans build stronger relationships with patients and families, increasing trust.

Services Offered In Palliative Care

Symptom Treatment: Treating symptoms is a key part of palliative care. It focuses on easing pain, nausea, tiredness, and other uncomfortable parts of illness or treatments. By treating these symptoms early, patients can have a better quality of life and participate in daily activities more comfortably. Custom treatment plans are created to make patients as comfortable as possible, making sure care is provided for their needs.3
Emotional and Spiritual Support: During illness, patients and families face emotional challenges like depression, anxiety, and sadness. Palliative care teams offer counseling, group therapy, and spiritual care to help them process emotions and build strength. Chaplains and faith leaders also provide spiritual care based on the patient's beliefs, bringing comfort during difficult times.
Care Organizers: Understanding the healthcare system can be hard for patients with serious illnesses. Palliative care teams act as organizers, making sure the team of experts works together to help the patient. They help with scheduling appointments, managing referrals, and explaining treatment options, helping patients make better decisions and avoid treatments they don’t need.
Advanced Care Planning: Advanced care planning helps patients think through their care choices before a medical emergency. Palliative care teams guide patients and families through this process, helping them understand treatment options and encouraging conversations about their wishes. This makes sure that care aligns with the patient's values and that their decisions reflect their goals, reducing stress for both patients and caregivers during serious situations.3

The Role Of Technology In Palliative Care

Technology is changing palliative care, making it more available and personalized. It helps doctors and nurses provide better support. Here’s how technology is impacting palliative care:

Telehealth Services

What It Is: Telehealth lets patients talk to doctors and nurses from home using video calls or phone calls.
Why It's Good: It helps patients get advice and manage symptoms without having to go in-person, which is especially helpful for those who have a hard time traveling or those who live far away. It also helps get rid of unnecessary hospital visits.

Remote Monitoring

What It Is: Wearable devices and mobile apps that keep track of a patient's health in real-time.
Why It's Good: These tools track important health-related information daily. Doctors review this data to spot issues early and change treatment plans, helping to prevent issues and giving patients peace of mind.

Online Support Communities

What It Is: Digital spaces where patients and caregivers connect and support each other.
Why It's Good: These communities allow people to share experiences, seek advice, and find encouragement. They offer resources like articles and online classes, helping families feel confident and less alone.

Information from Data

What It Is: Using advanced data analytics and AI to improve palliative care.
Why It's Good: Reviewing a patient’s health data helps predict results and create custom treatment plans. It makes sure treatments meet patient needs and helps use resources well, improving the process overall.

Finding The Right Palliative Care Provider

Choosing a palliative care provider is important for finding the best support for patients and families. Here’s what to look for:

Approval (Accreditation) And Certification

What It Is: Check if the palliative care provider has official approval and documents from organizations like The Joint Commission.
Why It's Good: Certifications mean the provider meets high-quality standards and follows best practices, giving families confidence in the care their loved ones receive.

Personalized Care Plans

What It Is: Providers should create personalized care plans based on the patient's needs and choices.
Why It's Good: Understanding the patient’s medical history and goals allows for healthcare support specific to the patients needs, making sure the care makes sense and is helpful throughout the process.

Communication And Coordination

What It Is: The provider should prioritize clear communication and organize care among multiple experts.
Why It's Good: Open dialogue makes sure that everyone is up-to-date with the treatment plan, helping patients and families make better decisions and reducing stress.

Read also:

Frequently Asked Questions About Palliative Care

What is palliative care and who is it for?

Palliative care is special medical care that helps ease symptoms and stress for people with serious illnesses. It can help patients of any age or stage and also supports their families by treating physical, emotional, and social needs.

How does palliative care differ from hospice care?

Palliative care can be given at any time during a serious illness during the same time as regular treatments. Hospice care is for patients who are near the end of life and focuses on comfort rather than trying to cure the illness.

What types of healthcare professionals are involved in palliative care?

A palliative care team usually includes doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other experts. Each person on the team has different skills to help with the patient’s overall health.

How does palliative care help families and caregivers?

Families get counseling, education, and support to help them care for their loved ones while taking care of themselves and preventing burnout. This creates a more caring and supportive atmosphere.

Can palliative care help with long-term illnesses like COPD and heart disease?

Yes, palliative care can be very helpful for long-term illnesses like COPD, heart disease, and cancer. It helps manage symptoms and can improve the quality of life for patients.

Does palliative care affect other treatments?

No, palliative care works alongside other treatments. It helps manage side effects and provides emotional support, allowing patients to continue with their other treatments.

What kind of emotional and spiritual support does palliative care provide?

Palliative care offers counseling, group therapy, and spiritual guidance through members of a church or faith leaders. This support helps patients and families deal with their emotions and find peace.

How is technology improving palliative care?

Technology like online healthcare and wearable devices helps with remote monitoring, online consultations, and gathering data. This makes palliative care more available for patients and families.

How do patients select the right palliative care provider?

Look for providers who are approved, offer custom care plans, communicate well, and work with other doctors and nurses to provide full support.

Is palliative care covered by insurance?

Insurance coverage varies, but many plans include palliative care services. Check with your insurance provider to find out what is covered.

Sources:

Temel, J. S., Greer, J. A., Muzikansky, A., Gallagher, E. R., Admane, S., Jackson, V. A., Dahlin, C. M., Blinderman, C. D., Jacobsen, J., Pirl, W. F., Billings, J. A., & Lynch, T. J. (n.d.). Early Palliative Care for Patients with Metastatic Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine/the New England Journal of Medicine, 363(8), 733–742. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1000678
“What Are Palliative Care and Hospice Care? | National Institute on Aging.” National Institute on Aging, 14 May 2021, https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hospice-and-palliative-care/what-are-palliative-care-and-hospice-care.
“Palliative care.” Mayo Clinic, https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/palliative-care/about/pac-20384637.

Maggie Reed