Palliative Care: Everything You Need to Know

If you’ve been diagnosed with a life-limiting disease, you have to think about your end-of-life wants and needs. Do you see yourself relying on hospitals and long-term care homes for assistance, or would you rather receive treatment in the comforts of your own home?

If you’re like most people, the answer is easy. Most people over the age of 65 would like to age in place, regardless of their health care needs. Like them, you would rather avoid crowded facilities for at-home palliative care. 

At-home palliative care experts prioritize kindness when offering first-class medical care. This dual focus can improve your quality of life by relieving pain and anxiety associated with your illness. 

Can Anyone Receive Palliative Care at Home?

When many people think of respite or palliative care, they might think of people diagnosed with terminal cancer. And while many stage-four cancer patients rely on palliative care for comfort, they aren’t the only people who can benefit from this service. 

Palliative care may be available if you have the following life-limiting diseases:

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Dementia and Alzheimer’s
• HIV/AIDS
• Kidney failure
• Liver disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s
• Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Stroke

Palliative care may be an option as soon as you receive a diagnosis for any of these diseases, which means you rely on its support for the entire duration of the disease. This puts it at a stark contrast to hospice care, which may only be available near the end-of-life phase. 

What Are the Benefits of At-Home Palliative Care?

Whether at-home or in a facility, palliative care aims to relieve the pain that patients might experience while sick, including the emotional turmoil of having a fatal illness and the side effects caused by medication and treatments.

When it comes to at-home services, professionals come to you to deliver these services in a familiar setting. This way, you don’t have to uproot your life at such a challenging time and move into a crowded and impersonal facility. 

Receiving compassionate care in the comfort of your own home is one of the biggest benefits of opting for at-home services. It also comes with the peace of mind that you’ll receive exemplary care from a team of qualified and experienced professionals. 

• Holistic Care: Palliative care comes from a large team of healthcare professionals, from your doctors and nursing staff to Personal Support Workers (PSWs) and therapists who offer additional support. This teamwork allows every healthcare professional involved to be on the same page about your care.
• Pain Management: On the advice of your doctor, nursing staff can administer prescription medication to preserve your comfort levels at all times. These nursing professionals also work with Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs) and Physiotherapist to offer hands-on pain relief and relaxation.
• Emotion and Social Support: At-home care goes beyond your basic medical needs. It provides companionship at what can be a lonely and stressful time in your life. Besides being a friendly face and a hand to hold, at-home healthcare professionals can offer mental health advocacy, making sure you and your family find counselling and support.

The Takeaway:

At-home palliative care brings joy and comfort at an impossibly hard time. But more importantly, it does so without disrupting your life. You can receive the best healthcare without leaving your home.