The most life-affirming moments can come out of the bleakest of situations.
Choosing where to receive palliative care is challenging, intensely personal, and may be dependent on medical advice. The fact that we can have options at all is in itself a gift unavailable to countless others in the world.
But, when emotions are running high, it can be hard to maintain the right level of perspective to see things objectively.
Read on for the insights you need to make informed decisions about what might be best for you or a loved one.
Evaluating Available Palliative Care Options
Reassessing where we wish to spend the time remaining is a very natural reaction when confronted with difficult news. It’s also quite normal to change our minds as we consider our priorities.
We’re all different, and what’s right for one person may be totally inappropriate for another. Discussions with healthcare professionals, family, and friends are a good place to start.
While everyone has the right to express their preferences for living arrangements, there are circumstances when the first choice may not be possible.
If you’re unsure about your care options, learning more about home care packages may help guide your decision-making process.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care aims to improve your quality of life by prioritising comfort and painrelief. It manages symptoms without dealing with theirunderlying cause.
With the right support, it might be possible to achieve this goal while living at home. If not, a hospice or hospital may be the right solution. Some individuals choose to remain at home while accessing some of the services available at a hospice.
Palliative care is not limited to end-of-life situations. It can begin at an earlier stage of a person’s illness. They may be undergoing other therapies to treat their condition at the same time. Each person’s situation is unique, and care plans adapt to individual needs and priorities.
Palliative Care Services at Home
A team of healthcare professionals works together to manage care for individuals with incurable illnesses or conditions. As specialists, they will also advise and include other professionals in a person’s care plan.
It’s quite possible to take a holistic approach to palliative care. This means looking after you as a whole person and not simply dealing with the symptoms of your condition. Palliative care can, therefore, include psychological, social, and spiritual support.
Your doctor and other medical professionals will be able to advise you. When choosing a home care provider, make sure they offer the following palliative care services at home:
- Assistance with dressing, bathing, and using the toilet
- Help with adherence to taking medication
- Emotional and physical pain management
- Help with moving around the home
- Housekeeping duties
- Preparing meals
- Errands like grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions
- Company and companionship
Planning for Homecare Solutions
Comfort Keepers offers many of these palliative homecare services, helping individuals maintain dignity and remain in a familiar setting with loved ones.
If a family member or friend provides care, it’s important to consider whether they’re able to meet your needs. How challenging are they likely to find this? What support will they need? Talk things through with them.
Being the carer of a family member who is in the final months or weeks of their life is very painful to deal with. This can be especially true if their condition gets progressively worse. Planning is essential no matter how hard it is to talk about.
How Can Hospice Care Help?
Palliative care is a key component of what hospices are able to offer. Hospices provide this kind of care for all those with a long-term illness.
This does not always mean end-of-life care. It can be available from the moment a person gets a terminal diagnosis.
Services Offered by Hospice Care
Hospice care provides comprehensive support tailored to individuals with terminal illnesses. The services include:
- Nursing and medical care – Some people receive specialist care during their stay, which may last days or weeks. They might return home afterward, depending on their condition.
- Home-based care options – Some hospices extend their services at home, offering flexibility and convenience.
- Extra support – Additional assistance addresses their spiritual, emotional, and social needs.
- Complementary therapies – Therapies like massage, art, or music provide comfort and can benefit family and friends.
Hospice Support for Loved Ones
The grieving process for loved ones can begin at the same time as end-of-life care. It’s important that friends and family also get the level of care and support that they need to help them cope with any impending or gradual sense of loss.
Hospices have multidisciplinary teams to assist you and your loved ones. These teams may include:
- Physiotherapists
- Hospital consultants
- Specialist nurses
- Occupational therapists
They will collaborate with existing health professionals involved in your care plan.
Palliative Care in Hospital and Nursing Homes
If you suddenly become unwell or need tests and treatment, you may need to go straight to a hospital. Many hospitals have palliative care teamsto manage symptoms and offer emotional support and information for you and your family.
Some people may opt for a care home or nursing home if they can no longer manage at home. In a care home, staff will be available at night as well as during the day.
A nursing home is similar to a residential care home. It will have qualified nurses on duty. This option is often ideal for individuals requiring continuous nursing care.
Getting the Right Support
At Comfort Keepers, we recognise that decisions about palliative care involve very personal choices.
What we can do is offer services to support anyone who wishes to live out their remaining days with dignity and in their own home.
Whatever your situation, get in touch with us now to find out how Comfort Keepers can help you through these difficult and challenging times.
