Palliative Care At Home For Cancer Patients In Concord City, California
Despite the fact that the terms are frequently used interchangeably, palliative care and hospice care are not the same thing. Despite the fact that both organizations provide care for persons suffering from terrible illnesses, there are significant contrasts between them. Both are concerned with enhancing comfort and quality of life to the greatest extent possible.
When it comes to palliative care, cancer pain is a common and severe symptom, and it may be highly debilitating. Although there have been significant advances in cancer treatment and pain management in palliative care, all patients reported moderate to severe pain at some stage in their illness. Everyday activities and even the most fundamental functions, including as mobility and sleep, can be significantly impacted, as can the overall quality of life and the general quality of one’s daily existence. Uncomfortable sensations that are not absolutely necessary are typically the result of inadequately regulated pain. Patients’ ability to cope with sickness is diminished because uncontrolled pain may cause disruptions in anti-cancer behavior, reducing their ability to cope. Anxiety about cancer pain among both clinicians and patients is a significant obstacle to the successful management of cancer pain. Increases in opiate dosages may be resisted by certain medical professionals due to common misconceptions about the risks associated with doing so.
It is essential to do a thorough evaluation of the patient’s discomfort and have an understanding of what is causing it. In order to determine whether the pain is caused by the disease itself, therapeutic side effects such as those associated with an intervention or a surgical procedure, or a different cause, it is necessary to determine whether the pain falls into one of the several cancer pain syndromes that have been discovered.
In hospice care, patients with an incurable illness whose life expectancy is very short (days, weeks, or months) and who are no longer pursuing life-extending treatment are given time-limited attention. For those suffering from a chronic medical illness such as cancer, renal failure, or congestive heart failure, palliative care may be a viable option to consider. Patients receiving this specialized sort of medical care should expect their quality of life to be improved as well as their ability to manage troublesome symptoms while they continue to receive treatment for their chronic disease.
Palliative care is acceptable for patients with serious illnesses of any age or stage, regardless of their age or stage of sickness. The Palliative Care Program at Melodia care is staffed by a team of Melodia Medicine doctors and nurses who are experts in palliative medicine, as well as a social worker, psychologist, art therapist and chaplain to provide comfort and support to patients and families. Throughout the duration of their illness, each of these highly qualified experts gives patients with an additional layer of assistance (including pain management) that would otherwise be unavailable.
Palliative care can benefit cancer patients by minimizing and alleviating the symptoms of their physical, mental and emotional suffering. Continue reading to learn more about how palliative care might benefit cancer patients.
The Aim Of Palliative Care
The goal of palliative care is to improve the overall quality of your life to the greatest extent possible. Through and after therapy, you should be able to live your life as you like, and you should be provided with resources to assist you in taking care of yourself and your loved ones while you are undergoing treatment. A number of cancer-related concerns and obstacles can be addressed through palliative care. Palliative care can assist in accomplishing this goal through the treatment of a variety of cancer-related issues and obstacles.
What Services Do Palliative Care Doctors Provide To Their Patients?
A serious sickness can inflict a great deal of misery in a variety of ways. Palliative care specialists are trained professionals who are skilled in assessing and treating the physical, emotional and spiritual discomfort that patients may suffer at any stage of their illness.
As part of the evaluation, a palliative care specialist will learn about the patients’ objectives and provide them with the care they require in order to achieve those objectives. Melodia care chaplain provides the example of assisting a father in managing his cancer pain and nausea so that he is able to return to work and his preferred recreational activities.
Here are some examples of how palliative medicine specialists can assist patients during the treatment process:
- Prescribe drugs to help with pain relief.
- Help patients cope with the stress and worry connected with their sickness.
- Facilitate tough conversations concerning prognosis between the oncologist and the patient, as well as the patient’s or family’s representatives.
- Enable patients’ access to psycho-social support services, which may include art therapy, psychiatric counselling, or participation in support groups
- Encourage patients to take advantage of available resources to reduce financial concerns.
- Assist patients who are seeking spiritual guidance.
- Make advice regarding physical therapy and exercise.
- Assist patients in making the transition to hospice care, if and when it is necessary.
Patients Who Are Suffering From Cancer May Discover That Palliative Care Is Beneficial
Patients’ “whole suffering,” as defined by palliative care, includes not only physical agony, but also anguish from numerous profoundly emotional, social, cultural, and existential problems that arise following a cancer diagnosis. In addition, palliative care can help alleviate a wide range of bodily symptoms, including nausea, exhaustion, shortness of breath, and sleeplessness. Palliative care can also help patients and caregivers cope with mental stress, such as despair and worry, before and after cancer treatment as well as financial difficulties.
Final point: most palliative care teams employ a multi-disciplinary approach to patient care, working with other services such as nutrition and physical therapy when necessary. As part of the healing process, they work closely with social workers and therapists to provide an additional layer of spiritual and emotional support to cancer patients and their families.
When Does Palliative Care Start?
When a patient is diagnosed with a serious illness, palliative care can begin as soon as possible. The purpose is to assist the patient and their family members during the treatment process in order to reduce pain, despair, tension and worry. Evidence suggests that receiving this type of support from the beginning of a person’s illness can help them live longer and better lives.
The Difference Between Palliative Care And Hospice
Both provide physical, emotional and psychological comfort to patients and their families in order to improve the overall quality of life for everyone involved. Essentially, palliative care can begin at any point following a diagnosis and will continue throughout therapy, whereas hospice care is reserved for those who have reached the end of their lives and no longer require health care.
What Other Advantages Might You Expect From Undergoing Palliative Care?
Palliative medicine can be of assistance to families who are dealing with the illness of a loved one. Referrals can be made by a doctor who specializes in palliative medicine. The doctor who specializes in palliative medicine keeps the patients’ goals in mind and assists them in making patient care decisions that are consistent with those goals.
What Is The Procedure For Receiving Palliative Care Services?
A referral will be made by a medical oncologist based on the physical and emotional needs of the individual patient. Private insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid are all likely to cover the costs of these procedures.
What Facilities Are Used For Palliative Care Services?
These services are accessible at Melodia Care Centers, among other locations. People can also receive palliative care services in the comfort of their own homes or in a long-term care facility.
What Is The Approach To Palliative Care Taken By Melodia Care?
Nurses, psychologists, physical therapists, an art therapist and a chaplain are all part of the multidisciplinary care team that includes our palliative medicine doctors and specialists. We treat the patient as a whole, rather than merely treating the sickness. Through the course of a patient’s disease, we provide support at every step of the journey, always keeping the individual’s goals in mind.
Palliative Care Therapies Are Diverse And Will Be Tailored To Your Specific Need
Some of the most prevalent approaches utilized in palliative care are as follows:
Pain or discomfort alleviation through medical care.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Relaxation techniques are important.
Supplemental nutritional support.
Support on an emotional level.
Guidance from a spiritual source.
Strategies for complementary and alternative medicine.
Your medical team can assist you in determining which therapy will be most beneficial to you.
Palliative Care Can Help You To Remain In The Comfort Of Your Own Home
A person suffering from a life-threatening illness may benefit from palliative care, which can be used to alleviate their suffering. It will relieve your soreness as well as the other symptoms that you are experiencing. Your understanding of your disease as well as the treatment options accessible to you will benefit by reading this book. As you and your loved one’s struggle with the challenges of living with a serious illness on a daily basis, this book will be an invaluable resource and a fantastic source of inspiration.
Many different types of palliative care are available to those who do not require hospitalization or specialist equipment to get care. Some cancer treatments are available in the comfort of your own home, while others require you to travel to your local doctor’s office or cancer center for treatment. Patient convenience is important to some institutions, which is why they provide palliative care on an outpatient basis. It is possible to obtain pain management at the same time that you are receiving therapy for your medical condition while you are under the care of a hospice. Additionally, you can obtain pain management at any point during your sickness.
Benefits Of Palliative Care
Symptoms and side effects of illness and cancer therapy are the primary emphasis of palliative care, which is also known as comfort care. There are specialists that specialize in palliative care, and your primary care physician and cancer doctor may also have suggestions for things you may do to improve your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being during your cancer treatment and recovery.
This type of care is available to you during your cancer treatment and even after you have stopped getting treatment. You can expect to receive assistance and support with the following difficulties if you receive palliative care:
- Management of physical symptoms such as pain, nausea and vomiting as well as tiredness, shortness of breath and sleeplessness
- Coping with negative emotions such as fear, despair, and anxiety.
- Making it easier for family members to cope with caregiving tasks while maintaining a sense of balance in their own lives.
- Providing information, resources, and assistance with financial, legal, insurance, and end-of-life issues.
Inquire with your family and doctor about your treatment objectives and how palliative care may be able to improve your quality of life.
Melodia.com provides further information regarding cancer therapy, side effects and palliative care, in addition to providing links to patient support and resource groups.
You can reach us at any time of day or night by contacting us through our 24/7 online customer support chat or by calling 1-888 635-6347 (MELODI-7).