Palliative Care

Palliative care is a specialised type of care that provides relief from the symptoms and stress of a terminal illness. Far from just medicating and keeping patients fed and hydrated, It is a holistic approach that can really improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family.

In this guide, we will explore what palliative care is, who could benefit from it, and how Greenwood Homecare could help you or a loved one benefit from palliative care at home.

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is a multidisciplinary approach to patient care that optimises the quality of life of patients facing serious illnesses or incurable illnesses.

Unlike curative care, which focuses on the treatment of the illness, palliative care addresses symptoms and stresses caused by the illness by providing practical help and support.

The end goal is to enhance the person’s comfort and well-being, by taking care of the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of end of life care.

Palliative care teams can be deployed at any stage of a serious illness and is not limited to end-of-life situations, however.

It involves managing symptoms, addressing the psychological and social aspects of the illness, and helping patients and their families with practical and emotional support.

Is Palliative Care for End-of-Life Patients Only?

As mentioned, while palliative care is often associated with end-of-life care, it is not exclusively for those in the final stages of their illnesses.

Palliative care can be put in place at the time of diagnosis and it can continue alongside other treatments.

Palliative carers provide support and comfort to patients and their family. Palliative carers can be vital in helping patients and loved ones to navigate the physical and emotional challenges that serious illness brings.

What Illnesses is Palliative Care For?

Palliative care is given to individuals facing serious illnesses. These can include:

• Cancer
• Heart failure
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Dementia
• Other life-limiting conditions.

A range of symptoms can be managed with palliative care, including pain, fatigue, nausea, and emotional distress.

Palliative care is not restricted to a specific setting. While it can be provided in hospitals and hospices it can even be provided in the comfort of one’s home, as demonstrated by our team of expert palliative carers.

What Does Palliative Care at Home Involve?

Palliative care at home, sometimes known as domiciliary care can be provided by an homecare agency, such as Greenwood Homecare.

Homecare agencies provide a range of services specifically tailored to meet the needs of those who require palliative care. Care may include:

• One live in carer, or palliative care teams
• Assistance with daily living such as toileting and feeding in their own home
• Medication management to relieve suffering caused by physical symptoms
• Emotional assistance for those suffering an incurable illness
• Coordination with other healthcare professionals
• Companionship to improve quality of life
• Dealing with needs that vary depending on the progressional of a condition

Here at Greenwood Homecare, we have trained carers who are trained to provide compassionate and personalised care. This can contribute to the overall quality of life of palliative patients while they remain in their home environment.

Let us help arrange homecare to suit you

If you would like to arrange care for a loved one, and do not want to use a district nurse, social care professionals with little experience, or send your loved one to a hospice or care home run by the local council, there is another option.

Greenwood Homecare can help you meet your loved one’s emotional support needs, as well as their medical needs. Providing you with your own carer is easier than you think.

Palliative Care Services To Your Home – Why Does It Work?

There are many benefits of opting for palliative care at home rather than in a medical or hospice setting.

At-Home Palliative Care Offers Comfort In A Familiar Environment

One of the biggest benefits of choosing palliative care at home is that it provides the care a person needs in the comfort of their own familiar surroundings.

Patients are surrounded by their own belongings, and family and friends can visit at any time, to keep the patient company.

A Personalised, Flexible Care Plan For End Of Life Care

Having palliative care at home gives the ultimate flexibility to a care plan. Homecare allows patients to manage their own symptoms when possible, but have someone on hand to provide care when they need it.

With options for live in palliative care available, you can have someone on hand should the person need to go into hospital due to a decline in their health.

Alternatively, if they are feeling well enough, a carer can take them out into the community to enjoy their favourite activities and support them while they do so.

Improving life quality

The aim is to ensure a good quality of life, not just look at people living with a terminal illness as beyond hope or laughter.

In fact, there are several studies that show the benefit of being able to access people’s usual community experiences.

Practical Needs Emotional Needs and Companionship

Not only can palliative care professionals assist with health concerns of their patients, a carer can also provide support with emotional suffering.

When facing serious illness and/or death in their near future a person may treat those closest to them kindly, not wanting to burden them with the pain, worry and emotional distress that comes with a terminal diagnosis.

Keeping a Level Head

A carer is someone outside of the family who can keep professional at what can be a trying time. A carer can become a confidante to discuss the harder parts of serious illness, other than those they may wish to discuss with a doctor or their nurses.

Autonomy, Respect and Pain Management

In essence, managing the health of a palliative care, including the pain is only one part of this type of service. Quality care means treating patients with deference where possible, and allowing them to take control of their own health decisions.

Giving someone autonomy over their own care can help them feel in control of their life.

Complex Needs Taken Care Of With Practical and Emotional Support

This does not mean a carer cannot cope with complex health needs, however. Whether it’s palliative nursing care for dementia you need, or you’re suffering with a complex health condition that requires specialist training to handle, nursing professionals are able to provide treatment and care without needing to be in a hospice environment.

Palliative Carers – Specialists In Access To Treatment At Home

Not only can Greenwood Homecare provide care at home for those facing an uncertain future, they can also speak to medical professionals on the patient’s behalf to help optimise their treatment.

For example, if pain relief medication is not effective, the carer can speak to the medical professionals involved in the patient’s care to ensure that they can access other treatment options.

Specialists in palliative care will have undergone extensive training and therefore may be aware of options that you may not have considered when it comes to medication or treatment.

How Much Do I Pay For Palliative Care?

If you’re worried about how to pay for palliative care services, you may be interested to learn that there are options open to you. Whether you’re worried about whether you have enough income to pay for your loved one’s care, or want to know about means tested funding options that could help you access care services for your loved one, Greenwood Homecare Can help.

If you provide details of income, we could help you plan ahead for the financial cost, so your loved one can receive palliative care at home without financial worry.

Palliative Care Teams – Get In Touch Today

Here at Greenwood Homecare, we are ready and waiting to assist you in getting your loved one the palliative care they need. Why not get in touch to arrange the very best of care for your loved one at home, a great alternative to a care home.