The Significance of Palliative Care in the Face of a Serious Illness

The very treatment that brings a cure or hope for the future comes at a cost, plagued by side effects and prolonged symptoms.

The treatment process for any serious medical condition or chronic illness can severely impair the individual’s quality of life.

The aftermath of such conditions is addressed with palliative care focusing on improving the quality of life and instilling positivity in the receiver’s mind.

But isn’t it what hospice care is all about? The conflicting confusion between palliative and hospice care concepts often makes people use them interchangeably.

Even though the two concepts mimic many similarities, there are significant differences that make them distinctive.

Palliative Care and Hospice Care - The Major Difference

Understanding the differences between these two caregiving concepts helps you choose the proper treatment for your loved one.

The major difference is that palliative care is provided to individuals with severe medical conditions for the long term, irrespective of the stage or age.

Hospice care is offered for terminally ill individuals but determined with less than six months to live.

Palliative Care - Treatment by a Multi-Disciplinary Team

The palliative care team involves various medical professionals based on the medical goals of the receiver.

Typically, the team includes a palliative doctor, respiratory specialists, neurologists, and other doctors.

The allied medical team includes palliative care givers, skilled nursing care specialists, physiotherapists, psychotherapists, social workers, and spiritual and wellness experts.

The Goals of Palliative Care

A wide range of symptoms is experienced in treatment for severe medical conditions such as cancer, stroke, dementia, and organ failure.

The primary goal of palliative care is to relieve symptoms that include fever, pain, breathing issues, weakness, and fatigue.

• To give relief from the distressing symptoms
• To improve the quality of life and overall comfort
• To help understand the treatment and make better decisions
• To offer hope, emotional support for the individual and their family members

Palliative Care - Who Needs It?

People diagnosed with chronic and critical medical conditions need palliative care to cope with the course of treatment.

The flexibility of receiving palliative care and ongoing treatment makes it easier for the individual to live a quality life despite the illness.

According to WHO, all people diagnosed with critical illness and in need of high-quality medical care are qualified to receive palliative care. Here are the four major types of health conditions that require palliative care.

Palliative Care for Cancer:

• Cancer treatment is associated with life-altering symptoms that affect day-to-day life severely.
• Palliative care is suggested along with cancer treatment. The care approach might vary based on the type of cancer, its stage, and the treatment approach.
• Palliative care is proven to be instrumental, particularly for chemotherapy and radiation therapies for cancer.

Palliative Care for Stroke:

• Stroke is considered to be a critical condition. The survivors of its attack are bound to deal with a lot of complications that obstruct daily life.
• Everyday life is improved with the help of palliative care while focusing on speech, movement, headaches, behavioral and emotional issues.
• Palliative care for stroke, most importantly, helps with memory care and regaining cognitive abilities.

Palliative Care for Respiratory Issues:

• Respiratory issues such as chronic cough, sleep apnea, anxiety, and shortness of breath can be managed with the help of palliative care.
• The respiratory specialists in the palliative care team help the patient by educating them on the lifestyle changes.

Palliative Care for Dementia:

• Primarily observed in seniors above 60, dementia is categorized as a condition that impairs memory, cognitive, and other brain functions due to neurodegeneration.
• The palliative caregivers, primary care specialists, and other medical professionals help the individual from feeding, hygiene, physical activity, and other daily activities.
• The physical and emotional support offered by the caregivers is exceptional in improving the senior’s sense of the quality of life.

Palliative Care for Gravely Ill Patients:

Besides the four primary health conditions, there are many medical issues for which people resort to palliative care.

People recovering after hospitalization, individuals who underwent a major surgery of an illness or for an accident, and in general anyone who is gravely ill are qualified to seek palliative care.

If an aging loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness, receiving palliative care would be ideal.

How to Get Started with Palliative Care?

Palliative care options were limited in India even in recent years. However, the number of care options is slowly but steadily increasing thanks to the assisted living facilities and modern senior living homes.

Based on the prognosis of the current condition, assisted living facilities are equipped enough to support the ongoing medical care for the illness and palliative care.

Besides the care from the multi-disciplinary team, assisted living facilities these days have antidepressant therapy and supportive psychotherapy sessions in the offering.

Get in touch with your medical care provider or visit Athulya Assisted Living Facility in Chennai that offers world-class palliative care to learn more about the types of care and ways to receive them.