What is palliative care?
Palliative care is a type of medical care designed to provide an improved quality of life and better comfort for patients facing serious, terminal illnesses. This type of care is provided for patients at various stages of their illnesses, and can be provided in parallel with curative treatments. Palliative care emphasises the management of symptoms and creating a comfortable environment for them, while respecting their personal wishes.
When should someone be offered palliative care?
Palliative care should be offered when an individual is diagnosed with a condition that is considered to be incurable, progressive or severely life-limiting. This includes conditions such as late-stage cancer, dementia, and degenerative conditions affecting organs.
What are the different phases of palliative care?
Palliative care is typically able to be divided into a few key phases depending on the condition of the patient.
- Stable: This is typically early in the management of a terminal illness. Often, this is when managing a condition will be the most straightforward and the time when you create plans for care.
- Unstable: When the condition of a patient begins to change or degenerate, the care plan will need to be adapted to accommodate for this.
- Deteriorating: As it is observed that a patient’s condition continues to become worse, the priority of the palliative care shifts to end-of-life care.
- Terminal: At this stage, the focus is on providing a patient with comfort through pain management and dignity through their final days.
- Bereavement: This phase occurs after a patient has passed away and is about supporting the families and loved ones as they deal with a loss.
Peace of mind palliative care services from Praxis Medical
Pain management during palliative care
Pain management is an integral part of palliative care, as it helps to provide comfort and allow patients to have an easier time with their situation. Typically, pain will be managed using certain medications. Patients will typically receive a combination of mild pain relievers like paracetamol and stronger pain relievers such as morphine. Other medications may also be included, such as steroids, anti-depressants or anti-inflammatories that can complement pain relief medication.
End-of-life care planning
End-of-life care planning involves figuring out some decisions about future care and documenting preferences for how your late-stage palliative care will go. This may include legal documents, appointing a decision-maker (power of guardianship) and preparing for support services that align with the patient’s values. At Praxis, we can help guide you and your loved ones through this process and provide support for your wishes.
Emotional support for palliative care
When someone is in palliative care, the situation may cause a lot of emotional challenges for their close friends and family. Our team is able to help you through these tough times by providing counselling or connecting with specialists that can help you navigate your emotions.