The benefits of palliative care are extensive and provide crucial support for patients and their families facing a difficult journey. Contrary to common belief, palliative care is not solely for the very end of life. The World Health Organization defines it as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with a life-threatening illness. Palliative care benefits are realised through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification, assessment, and treatment of pain and other problems, whether physical, psychosocial, or spiritual.
This holistic care begins from the moment of a serious diagnosis and extends through the course of an illness, adapting as the patient's needs change. It is distinct from hospice care, which is specifically for those nearing the end of life. The sooner it starts, the more a person can benefit, which is why experts advocate for early palliative care.
Organising palliative care through an award-winning home care agency like Tiggo Care has several benefits for patients and their families. This blog post will highlight the benefits of palliative care that our clients have experienced when receiving our palliative care services at home.
Palliative care is for patients diagnosed with a terminal illness. It is often confused with end-of-life care but end-of-life care only refers to the fourth stage of the 5 Stages of Palliative Care. Palliative care is more holistic and entails all of the support provided to patients from the moment they are diagnosed with a terminal illness to bereavement support for family and friends.
Palliative care aims to improve the overall wellness of patients with an incurable illness. The day-to-day care will vary for each person depending on their diagnosis, specific needs, and wants. Hence it’s important to create a personalised care plan for each patient outlining their exact requirements. Usually, a care plan will include the following:
While some refer to the 5 stages of palliative care, it is more accurately seen as a continuous journey of care that adapts to the patient's changing needs. This journey is managed by an interdisciplinary approach. A typical palliative care team includes:
This team approach is essential for providing quality palliative care. They work together to coordinate care, ensuring all aspects of the patient's well-being are addressed. This is particularly important for patients who are at high risk of complications. The team also helps families navigate difficult conversations about life sustaining treatments and document wishes in advance directives, ensuring the patient's voice is always heard.
A key question many families ask is, when should someone be offered palliative care? The answer is simple: as early as possible after the diagnosis of a serious illness. Unfortunately, there are still significant barriers to this, and many people are referred late and subsequently don’t experience the full benefits.
Early identification by healthcare professionals is critical. This responsibility often falls to primary care providers who are best placed for identifying patients who could benefit. An early referral can make a profound difference. Conditions that warrant a discussion about palliative care include:
The goal of healthcare providers should be embedding palliative care into standard treatment plans for any person with a life-limiting condition. This ensures that comfort and quality of life are prioritised alongside any curative treatment.
It's a well-known fact that home-based care reduces hospitalisations, particularly for seriously ill patients. This is one of the most significant benefits of palliative care. For example, one study in Sweden showed a 92% reduction in the number of days spent in the hospital and an 80% reduction in the number of visits to A&E among frail older people receiving person-centred integrated care.
To fully realise this benefit, it's important to use a managed home care provider rather than a self-employed care assistant. Managed palliative care providers better integrate with local health systems and community resources, including GPs and community nurses. This team approach helps manage flare-ups of chronic conditions at home, avoiding stressful A&E visits and admissions to hospital or nursing homes.
In most cases, your loved one will require assistance managing pain and other symptoms associated with their illness. This is where palliative medicine excels. A professionally trained carer can help identify the causes of pain and carry out regular assessments.
Most patients will use medication to relieve pain. Carers can provide support with medication routines, ensuring doses are taken correctly and on time. They also recognise when a patient needs additional pain relief and can liaise with the wider medical team. However, not all pain is managed with medication. Many patients use a combination of treatments. Examples of non-pharmacological treatments include:
A dedicated carer from a quality provider can support your loved one with these complementary techniques as part of a comprehensive supportive care plan.
One of the main goals is to improve the quality of life of patients with an advanced illness. This goes far beyond just managing symptoms. As the illness progresses, your loved one might find it harder to complete household tasks. Organising palliative care at home ensures they have a carer available to support them. This allows your loved one to spend less time worrying and more time doing things they love.
This holistic care addresses the whole person, not just their illness. At some point, your loved one might also need assistance with personal care, such as showering and dressing. Their carer can help with this too, preserving their dignity and comfort. The entire focus is on maximising their well-being and independence for as long as possible.
When you receive a terminal diagnosis it’s common to experience a range of emotions, such as anxiety, fear, and sadness. Often people assume that those diagnosed with a terminal illness will automatically suffer from depression. However, the rate of depression among patients with terminal illnesses is much lower than one might expect. For example, one study found that only 17% of terminally ill cancer patients were clinically depressed.
If your loved one feels scared, depressed or anxious their palliative care assistant will encourage them to seek help from a counsellor, family member, religious professional or spiritual professional. The palliative care team might also recommend complementary therapies such as music therapy or physical activity, which have been shown to positively impact the emotional well-being of patients, even those with advanced cancer.
Lastly, palliative care includes supporting the family and friends of the person who is ill. A good carer will take the time to get to know the important people in the patient's life. So long as the patient gives consent, their carer will ensure everyone is kept up-to-date.
When the loved one passes away, the carers are there to provide additional support. Palliative care teams understand the unique distress that family and friends experience. They offer a compassionate space where people can express their emotions and receive validation. This support often continues into the bereavement period.
Properly organised palliative care provides essential support to patients with a chronic illness. It aims to improve access to comfort and dignity for all who receive palliative care, whether in high-income countries or low and middle-income countries.
At-home palliative care can reduce hospital visits, manage pain, improve a patient's quality of life, and decrease the risk of depression. The team-based approach, involving various health professionals with relevant knowledge, also offers compassionate support to friends and family. The overarching goal is to improve the overall wellness of patients and their families, ensuring the best possible life care during a difficult time.
At Tiggo Care, we are committed to delivering quality palliative care through an interdisciplinary approach. Contact us today to learn how our palliative care team can help your family receive palliative care that prioritises comfort, dignity, and peace of mind.
Hospice care is a specific type of palliative care for people who are in the final phase of a terminal illness and are no longer seeking life-sustaining treatments. The focus is purely on comfort and quality of life for the time remaining. People who receive care in a hospice typically have a prognosis of six months or less. Palliative care, however, can and should begin at diagnosis and can be provided for years alongside other treatment options.
No, end-of-life care is one component of the broader palliative care journey. Palliative care is the complete support system for someone with a life-limiting illness, starting from diagnosis. End of life care refers specifically to the care provided in the last weeks or months of life, focusing intensely on comfort.
Yes, absolutely. Palliative care can be provided at home by a home care service provider or a hospice team. Organising palliative care at home allows patients to remain in comfortable, familiar surroundings while receiving the necessary support and assistance from trained care providers.
Family and friends benefit from palliative care through emotional support, practical assistance with caregiving tasks, and access to information and resources. Health professionals on the palliative team help families navigate the healthcare system and make difficult decisions, reducing stress and allowing them to focus on spending quality time with their loved one.
Get in touch with Tiggo Care today to see how we can help you or your loved one.
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