What You Should Know About Palliative Care

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Palliative Care

Palliative care is there for those reaching the end of their lives when they are suffering from terminal illnesses. It is designed to help patients feel more comfortable in their final days, helping them with pain medication and providing them comfort and support. Palliative care healthcare professionals can also provide a patient’s relatives with support and peace of mind too. Losing someone you love is heart-breaking in any circumstance, but watching them suffer is an awful thing to witness, which is why finding the right care for them towards the end is essential. There are different options of palliative care available that you might want to know about.

Hospital Care

If a patient has deteriorated and they have ended up in hospital as a result, they can receive some palliative care there. Usually, they will be cared for by a nurse and the healthcare team temporarily while other arrangements are made, such as moving the patient to a hospice or organizing care at home. 

Hospice Care

Hospice is a type of palliative care. Hospice caregivers help patients be more comfortable and offer emotional support to both patients and their loved ones. To learn more about what you can expect from hospice care, contact organizations like LightBridge Hospice in San Diego – or find a similar provider near you.

Care at Home

Unless a patient ends up in the hospital due to an unexpected turn, most prefer to be at home in their last days. It is a familiar space that they are comfortable in, and they are surrounded by the ones they love rather than strangers. Hospital and hospice care aim to prepare a patient to be able to go home and die peacefully, and they usually they can send healthcare professionals to a patient’s home for day visits to keep helping them. Alternatively, you can hire a palliative nurse privately for more hands-on care at home if you would prefer this.

Patients in a Care Home

If a patient has already been living in a care home, they might have the option of staying where they are and receiving palliative there. This can be more comfortable for them if they are settled in the home, as moving when terminally ill can sometimes be distressing and tiring. However, if they want to move in with family, this could still be an option for them, depending on the circumstances.

Dealing with a terminal illness is never an easy thing to go through for the patient or their loved ones. Making the most out of what remains of their life is key, but when they start to get overcome by their illness, making sure that they are comfortable in their last days is what matters the most. If you have a loved one who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and you want to know what their options are, consider the options above and what might work best for them.