Palliative Care In Dublin City, California
In the case of people who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses, palliative care is a type of specialized care. Palliative care is designed to relieve the symptoms of illness while also improving the quality of life for the patient, their families and loved ones.
It is provided to patients of all ages and it is based on the needs of the individual patient rather than the patient’s prognosis, as is the case with hospice care. Those who provide palliative care are drawn from a diverse group of doctors, nurses and other specialists who have undergone specialized training in this area.
In addition to focusing on easing the physical symptoms of a disease, palliative care emphasizes stress relief and ensuring that the patient has the greatest amount of mental well-being possible during their illness. In addition to meeting the physical and medical needs of patients, palliative caregivers consult with them to determine their emotional and spiritual requirements.
It’s critical to understand that when a loved one enters palliative care, they will be receiving the best possible care while dealing with a serious illness. Patients and their families are guided through the process of palliative care, which is divided into five stages with the goal of reducing pain and improving quality of life. The purpose of this article is to explain what palliative care is, when it is appropriate and what each stage of the process entails.
Who Qualifies For Palliative Care And What Is It?
Palliative care can be beneficial to anyone who is suffering from a serious illness. Here are a couple of illustrations:
- Lung diseases are those that affect the lungs.
- Kidney failure is a medical condition that occurs when the kidneys fail.
- HIV/AIDS.
- ALS (Alzheimer’s Disease) (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
People who are receiving palliative care can continue to be under the supervision of their regular health-care provider and continue to receive treatment for their disease.
What Is A Palliative Care Provider?
Patients, their families and other medical professionals receive medical, social, emotional and practical assistance from a palliative care team, which is made up of experts from a variety of disciplines. Members vary depending on what is required and available resources but in general, palliative medicine professionals include those who work in the following fields:
- A group of medical professionals
- Nurse practitioners and registered nurses
- Physician assistants are individuals who provide assistance to doctors.
- Dietitians who have obtained a license to practice.
- Social workers are individuals who provide assistance to others.
- Massage therapists who have specialized in this field.
- Physical therapists who have specialized in this field.
The team that a person receives may differ depending on their needs in terms of symptom management and level of care. If a person’s healthcare professional determines that they require palliative care, they can refer them to a palliative care expert or request one on their behalf. Palliative care can be provided in a variety of settings, including hospitals, cancer centers, outpatient palliative care clinics and long-term care homes. Depending on where you live, you may also be able to hire a home care organization that has palliative care specialists or services available to you.
Insurance policies, Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs may all cover palliative care. Inquiries about what is covered by health insurance can be answered by the companies that provide it.
When Should Palliative Care Be Used?
It is most commonly provided to older people, but it can be provided to anyone who has been diagnosed with a serious, chronic or life-threatening illness at any stage of their life. Individuals who have been admitted to the hospital or who have visited the emergency room on a number of occasions in the previous year are frequently candidates for this procedure.
What Resources Are Available For Palliative Care?
Palliative care is available in a number of different settings. Hospitals, hospices and long-term care facilities are examples of this type of establishment. Palliative care can be provided to patients in the comfort of their own homes.
Do Hospice And Palliative Care Represent The Same Concept?
Patients who are nearing the end of their lives have two options: palliative care or hospice care. The provision of palliative care can provide significant comfort to patients who are nearing the end of their lives. In many cases, it is administered concurrently with treatment for their illness, and it is also made available at the time of diagnosis or prognosis so that people can feel more at ease for the remainder of their lives.
A terminal illness is treated with hospice care after all treatments for the illness have been discontinued, or when there is no longer any hope of recovery from an injury or illness (typically a 6-month life expectancy). In contrast to attempting to prolong the life of a dying loved one beyond what is reasonable given their health condition, hospice allows families to concentrate on providing a good quality of life for their dying loved one.
The Objectives Of Palliative Care
Rather than focusing on curing a disease, palliative care aims to improve the overall quality of life of the patient. The goals are to promote comfort, reduce discomfort and anxiety, restore dignity and maintain as much autonomy as possible in everyday activities and decision-making processes as is reasonably possible for the individual. In addition to reducing symptom load, the goal is to make people happier without causing them to experience any changes in their illness or condition.
Symptoms And The Treatment
If a patient has a long-term illness or is receiving aggressive chemotherapy, the palliative care team will investigate and identify additional symptoms and treatments for him or her. This can help with the physical and mental effects that these symptoms can have on a person’s well-being.
Discomfort Can Be Reduced
Pain, nausea, shortness of breath, and a lack of appetite are among the most common symptoms experienced near the end of life. Pain that goes untreated can be extremely distressing for both the individual and their family, especially when it exacerbates underlying diseases such as diabetes. In order to alleviate discomfort without the risk of developing an addiction or developing a tolerance to opioid medications, pain management becomes critical at this point in the treatment process.
Improving The Overall Quality Of Life
The participants in one trial were randomly assigned to receive regular medical care or palliative care plus standard care while hospitalized for weeks throughout cancer treatments requiring bone-marrow transplants.
After two weeks in the hospital, patients who received palliative care reported fewer symptoms, a lower decline in quality of life and less depression and anxiety than those who received standard care. Patients who received palliative care reported some improvement three months after starting treatment.
Support In The Areas Of Social And Spiritual Well Being
Individuals who are suffering from a serious illness must receive treatment for their emotional and psychological well-being as well. As their bodies begin to fail them, palliative care ensures that patients maintain active relationships with their loved ones as well as with friends, family members and caregivers. This can be difficult when their bodies begin to fail them. People can also benefit from art therapy or pet therapy, which can help them feel more at ease about their condition.
Supporting Those Who Are Caring For Others
A person may have a large number of support networks in their daily lives, but as time passes and their care requirements change, it becomes increasingly important to find someone who can assist them in achieving their care objectives. If you’re not sure where to begin your search on your own, you could seek advice from your health-care professionals or personal-care service providers for recommendations. In palliative care consultations, a team approach can help patients have a better quality of life while also ensuring that all of their loved ones are aware of the treatment options available to them.
Stages Of Palliative Care
Palliative care is divided into five stages that are referred to as phases. In order to help patients, their families and loved ones better understand palliative care, it is important to understand the stages of care.
Stage One: During the first stage of palliative care, the patient, their family members, and/or loved ones will collaborate with healthcare providers to develop a palliative care plan, which will be implemented by the healthcare team.
Stage Two: At this time, the patient’s symptoms can be adequately managed by existing treatments; however, as the patient’s condition progresses, a treatment strategy will be developed to maintain symptom management and quality of life. It is common to refer to the first stage as the “stable phase” during this time period.
Stage Three: he or she is referred to as the “unstable phase,” because the patient begins to experience symptoms that necessitate the assistance of a team of medical specialists at this point. During this stage, the patient may experience the development of a new problem or group of symptoms related to their illness, or the intensity of existing problems or symptoms may worsen. The patient’s palliative care treatment may need to be changed immediately or in a significant way.
Patients, their family members, and loved ones may benefit from emotional and spiritual support from healthcare professionals, a chaplain, or another spiritual leader at this point in the process.
Stage Four: During this stage, the patient’s symptoms worsen gradually over time, and new and unexpected symptoms or medical problems may manifest themselves. The “deteriorating phase” is the term used to describe this time frame. During this stage, it is common for loved ones and family members to experience worsening distress and difficulties maintaining their regular routines, necessitating the provision of additional emotional support and counselling.
Stage Five: Obtaining inpatient care at a hospice or hospital, or, if possible, at the patient’s residence, is the goal of stage four. The need for end-of-life care is common at stage four, according to research. Patients at this stage are frequently bedridden and have trouble swallowing pills. They are also disoriented and uninterested in food or drink, and they require daily health interventions. The emotional and spiritual well-being of patients, as well as the well-being of their family members and loved ones, is given top priority in all aspects of care.
Stage Six: Following the patient’s death, the patient enters the fifth stage of the process. During this stage, also known as the “bereaved phase,” which can last several months, family members and loved ones may be provided with a grieving plan that has been prepared ahead of time.
Is There A Specific Stage At Which Palliative Care Should Be Initiated?
It is used to assist with the treatment and management of symptoms, and it can be used whenever you believe it will be beneficial after receiving a diagnosis of any type of cancer. Because this type of care is available for a wide range of diseases, each of which has a unique impact on a person’s life, it is not necessary to specify a specific time frame for its implementation.
Discuss with your doctor whether or not this type of treatment would be beneficial in your particular situation. However, you are the only one who truly understands how you are feeling and what kind of assistance you desire or require, so the final decision rests with you.
You have complete control over your palliative care process, and our mission is to help you lead the most fulfilling life possible while providing you with assistance in every way possible.
Melodia Care places a high value on the comfort and well-being of you and your loved ones. We’ve been committed to providing high-quality, medical-grade products that help patients maintain a high quality of life while undergoing medical treatments.
You can reach us at any time by contacting us through our 24/7 online customer support chat or by calling 1-888 635-6347 (MELODI-7) & Melodia Care Hospice.