What Is Palliative Care?
There is perhaps no decision as fraught with complicated, heartbreaking emotions as there is with determining end of life care for yourself or a loved one. While forgoing other treatments and battles to focus on seeking comfort and peace is insurmountably difficult, it can also be one of the most brave and compassionate choices you can make.
It is not uncommon for those exploring what palliative care is to feel overwhelmed and sorrowful, especially after so much time, energy, and other precious resources went into building a community focused on healing. Even more, in a culture that would rather forget about the inevitability of the end of our lives and that treats it as “taboo,” such feelings can also make us feel lonely. It’s for those reasons that those who work with a trusted team of palliative care specialists find meaning and hope, even in the midst of grief. If palliative care is what you, your doctor, and other trusted caregivers are considering, this guide can serve as a start to help you feel more empowered as you make important medical decisions.
What is Palliative Care?
What the meaning of “palliative care” shows is an interesting relationship we have with facing the end of our lives: on one hand, palliative comes from an old English word that means “covering,” or even “to cloak.” On the other hand, the word’s origins directly mean comfort and alleviating pain. Even though some might take the idea of “covering” to mean “concealing,” when it comes to hospice care, nothing could be further from the truth: palliative care is what happens when a team of professionals provide compassion and dignity to a terminally ill person, while providing an abundance of transparency, openness, and a readiness to assist that person’s loved ones.
In other words, palliative care is like a soft cloak or a blanket. This “blanket” is not meant to cover up or to hide under, but instead it is a warm, tender embrace at a time when it’s needed most. Palliative care at its best is when we decide to embrace the end of life, and to make the mindshift from warriors fighting a deadly illness, to travelers at journey’s end, seeking peace and making meaningful connections with our loved ones.
Why Palliative Care Matters
What palliative care provides is a replacement of rigorous, often painful treatments that cause severe side effects with medical care that focuses on making the most of those precious, remaining days.
People who choose hospice care are people who choose to pass away in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by loved ones, and who seek comfortable care around the clock in quiet, familiar settings rather than in unfamiliar, often loud hospital settings. Medication and therapies also switch from curing to comfort, including by relieving pain, helping with speech and communication, and addressing changing dietary needs. Hospice care experts are ready to answer questions that range from helping you understand why your loved one is no longer interested in eating their favorite foods, to lovingly helping you navigate paperwork that can otherwise feel cold and uncaring.
After all, the world doesn’t stop even when our worlds are breaking; however, knowing that there are people who are ready to stop everything to take care of us in a time of greatest need, is truly something that makes a world of difference. That iswhat palliative care provides that makes it so unique to any other form of healthcare.
Accepting Palliative Care
Choosing palliative care is a deeply personal decision, but fortunately, it is not one you make alone. Opting for hospice care is one that is done with a team of medical experts, often including a primary care doctor. Generally speaking, what qualifies an individual to receive this treatment is a prognosis of six months or less to live, due to having a terminally ill condition where there is no known or likely cure - and especially if treatment is incredibly risky and invasive. Additionally, palliative care is what is recommended when a disease will likely progress with significant pain and in other ways that significantly reduce quality of life.
If you are caring for a loved one seeking hospice care, or you are seeking this care for yourself, another important thing to keep in mind that a hospice team will help you with is ensuring that everyone involved is cared for not only emotionally and physically, but also legally and guided through systems like Medicare, MediCal, and Medicaid.
Working with a trusted hospice care team also means working with social workers and additional specialists who are ready to assist you, so that you can spend as much as time as possible on the things that really matter: your loved ones.
Building a Caring Community
Hospice care teams are highly personalized, meaning that palliative care is tailored according to the specific needs of each individual. Palliative care is about taking into account such factors as the age of the individual seeking care, their current and future medical needs based on the knowledge of their illness and how it will likely progress, what their support system already looks like, and of course, the patient’s own likes and dislikes.
Types of Palliative Care and What to Expect
“So, what is palliative care going to be like for me and my loved one?” Ultimately, as no two people are alike, so also is hospice care unique to the individual. With that said, there are four main types of palliative care, all of which can be changed or combined to fit the particular needs of each person:
Routine - This is the form that is most synonymous with hospice care. Routine palliative care is what happens when an individual is provided care through frequent home visits. Sometimes, but not always, this can include specialized bedding and other aids that can maximize comfort while also assisting with mobility. People who provide house calls include nurses, medical directors, social workers, physical therapists, and mental health counselors, not only to make sure to check an individual’s medical condition, but also help with house care, paperwork, and any other physical or mental health needs.
Continuous - For patients who need more individual care, this is when an individual receives nursing care for up to eight hours a day. This is a meaningful palliative care option for those who are already taking care of their loved ones to be able to spend more time simply as loved ones.
In-patient - While many individuals prefer the peace and quiet of their own homes, there are many for whom a better option is to receive care in a medical facility, such as if a person is getting memory care assistance. This blending of traditional medical care with hospice care is especially helpful for those with complex medical or interpersonal needs, but where the focus still remains on dignity and compassion for a terminally ill patient.
Respite - If there is another major life event, especially if it involves travel or other time away from your loved one, or if there is an additional cataclysmic “when it rains it pours” event, respite care is for when a nurse comes to relieve caregivers, so that all involved are still taken care of.
Compassionate Care from A & H Hospice
A & H Hospice is a team of dedicated healthcare professionals who are passionate about walking alongside each patient and their loved ones at the most vulnerable moments in our lives, and where compassion, understanding, and proactive care mean everything. Our philosophy on palliative care is that what our patients and their loved ones need is our undivided attention, rapid responsiveness, and medical expertise alongside humanity and kindness. Formed as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to shake our world, we are adept at providing quality care while navigating complex medical and emotional uncertainties. As a local team centered in Southern California, we cherish this place we call home and work to ensure that every one of our patients has all the comforts of home every step of the way, alongside ensuring a strong working relationship with your existing medical providers.
We are Here For You
When the focus of medical care transitions from curing to caring for a person as they are, the need for compassion and dignity is even greater. To A & H Hospice, palliative care means finding meaning in even the unimaginable, celebrating the person as more than a patient, and above all, comfort and peace in times mixed with grief and uncertainty. We understand that even after reading this, you likely still have many more questions - and we can safely say that no matter how you feel or what you are thinking, you are not alone.
When you are ready, we invite you to call us at (818) 751-0700 to learn more about what our experienced, ACHC accredited support network of hospice care providers can mean for you, your loved ones, and the journey ahead.