The Different Stages of Palliative Care
Understanding the Palliative Care Processes
Palliative care is a support system for people living with serious and life-limiting conditions. Palliative care takes into account every aspect of a person’s needs, on a holistic basis.
This means that the focus is on improving every aspect of the person’s life with an emphasis on not just the physical care needs, but the emotional, psychological, and spiritual too.
Whether the person is already having professional care at home, or relying on family support, Helping Hands offers palliative care support on both a visiting and live-in care basis to suit every aspect of your individual needs.
The Importance of Palliative Care
Palliative care is vitally important because it “makes you as comfortable as possible,” says the NHS, “by managing your pain and other distressing symptoms.” While primarily focussing on the person who is terminally ill, it also ensures that the person’s family and carers are supported. This is called a ‘holistic’ approach because it deals with the ‘whole person’ not just the symptoms of the illness.
Stage 1: Early Palliative Care and Diagnosis Support
In the early stages of palliative care, the focus will be on effective planning, which will be a collaborative process between the person, their loved ones and their wider healthcare team.
Bespoke care plan
Working with the person and their loved ones to address their specific needs and goals
Emotional support
Helping the person and their loved ones to adjust to the challenges of a terminal illness
Discussing needs
Monitoring progression of symptoms, treatment options, and future care needs
Stage 2: Ongoing Care and Symptom Management
Stage 2 of palliative care is when the person will be experiencing more symptoms of their illness and requiring more support to manage day-to-day life.
Symptom management
Managing symptoms such as a reduction in appetite, weight loss, and pain
Promoting independence
Managing pain so that the person can live as actively and comfortably as possible
Practical assistance
Providing personal care, specialist equipment, and managing treatment daily
Stage 3: Advanced Palliative Care and End-of-Life Planning
In the advanced stages of palliative care, the focus will be on the transition to palliative care and ensuring that the person, their friends and family are comforted and have all the information they will need in the following days and weeks.
Transitioning
Changing focus to end-of-life care will ensure the person is comfortable and treated with dignity
Making arrangements
Holistic care can be provided at home or in a hospice, at the person’s preference
Supporting friends and family
This includes bereavement support, and continued practical assistance at home
How Can I Get Palliative Care?
Your healthcare provider will discuss your options with you and you’ll be offered support from appropriate sources. They’ll explain your options to you, such as remaining at home for your palliative care journey or moving into residential care.
We find that many people don’t realise that they can remain living in the home they love for both their palliative and end-of-life care, and that Helping Hands can provide visiting or live-in care that will seamlessly work as part of your wider healthcare team. Our carers are compassionate professionals who will do everything necessary to keep you living as comfortably and independently as possible.
Palliative Care versus Hospice Care
Palliative care at home means you’ll remain where you feel most comfortable, surrounded by the people and pets you love. With one-to-one support from a compassionate carer, you’ll have many reasons for choosing palliative home care over hospice care.
Professional Care with Helping Hands
We understand that you wish to spend the rest of your life in the home that means the most to you, and our carers, supported by our own clinical nursing team, can make that happen.
All of our carers who support more complex conditions have additional training and support to suit their customers’ circumstances, and will be able to help you with every aspect of what you are living through. They will also understand the impact the process will be having on your loved ones and will do all they can to support them too.
