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5 things to know about palliative care

The terms “support care” and “palliative care” are sometimes used interchangeably. Where I work, we use “support care” to include all the various programs related to palliative care and advanced care planning.

I am a great believer not to reinvent the wheel, so let’s first examine the definition of “palliative care” which was developed by the center to advance palliative care (CAPC):

Palliative care (pronounced Pal-lee-Uh-Tiv) is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on relief of patients from symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness, regardless of diagnosis. The objective is to improve the quality of life for the patient and the family.

Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work with the other doctors of a patient to provide an additional support layer. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage of a serious illness and can be provided with curative treatment.

By looking at this definition, here are five things to know about support care:

Palliative care is specialized medical care.

Like doctors, nurses and other health care providers must study specific areas of care, such as heart care for cardiology, for example, there are those who choose to study palliative care. There are certification processes for clinicians. Each health care provider must include the basics of palliative care, just as they need to know the basics of cardiology, and there are those able to manage more difficult or complex problems.

Palliative care is intended for patients with serious illness.

It is important in what he does not Say: Palliative care is not only for patients who die. Palliative care is not the same as the hospice, although they share a lot in common. The hospice is intended for patients at the end of their life (six months or less, in general). Palliative care patients could have a long life in front of them, or they could be towards the end of life. In a very real sense, the hospice is a form of palliative care for patients who are in the final stage of a disease. Anyone with serious illness could benefit from palliative care.

Palliative care focuses on the relief supply.

One of the greatest advantages of palliative care is that it focuses on making patients and families feel better. Traditionally, doctors work on the problem, whatever. Although this is important, it sometimes happens without much attention to pain, suffering or impact that a serious illness can have both on the patient and his family. Palliative care may not be able to withdraw all symptoms, but they can help them be manageable.

Palliative care can help, regardless of diagnosis.

Palliative care is not only for cancer. It is for chronic pulmonary diseases, neurological conditions, heart disease, congenital diseases and many others. Since the emphasis is placed on symptoms, pain, stress, etc., and those who come with a disease, diagnosis is not the determining factor. Palliative care can help.

The objective of palliative care is to improve the quality of life.

Quality of life is a subjective term. It means different things for different people. In palliative care, the patient and the family determine what is most important for them, and palliative care is working to try to get there. Completing the care plan for care objectives is what leads to a better quality of life.

Last update: November 5, 2018

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