Understand the 5 stages of palliative care

Palliative care focuses on relieving painful symptoms to improve the quality of life of people with serious illness and their families. Five general stages of palliative care act as directives for palliative care providers, but the steps may or may not be followed in order.

Jump at the main dishes to remember.

1. Stable / coherent internship

During the first stage of palliative care, the person is considered stable. The palliative team of the care provision notes the physical, mental and other needs of the individual, and works with the individual and their loved ones to make a care plan.

Health professionals who can be involved in carrying out this plan include:

This plan will probably change as needs and circumstances change, but it provides a basic roadmap for the start of palliative care.

Legal considerations, such as advanced directives, financial proxy and health care proxy, can also be examined, which may require the involvement of a lawyer.

2. Unstable / without safety step

During the unstable or unsafe stage, existing problems can increase in severity, or new problems can arise that were not planned in the existing care plan. This may include a need for emergency treatment, an urgent change in the care plan or a sudden change in family or caregivers who have an impact on the individual care.

Psychological, emotional and spiritual support can be important during this stage, because the individual adapts to new circumstances or symptoms. Support can come from advisers, therapists, psychiatrists, religious or spiritual leaders and other professionals.

Support is also offered to dear beings who are likely to have an emotional assessment.

3. Damage step

During this stage, the disease may progress, do not respond to treatment or cause worsening of symptoms that negatively affect quality of life.

All those who receive palliative care do not progress at this stage. It is possible to stay in stages 1 or 2 palliative care for many years, or to recover from the disease and no longer need palliative care (such as remission cancer).

Individuals at this stage may require more advanced treatments and care. An increase in home care or preparations for the hospice can be taken into account.

At this point, the emphasis is on comfort and pain management, as well as emotional support for individuals and loved ones. Spiritual support can also be offered to those who wish.

The palliative care team will help the individual to maintain as much independence as possible by offering support such as home aid, certified nursing assistants, volunteers and other people who can meet needs such as bath and grocery store.

The needs are frequently evaluated and the care plan is adjusted accordingly.

4. Terminal internship

This step is also called end -of -life care. At this stage, the individual has a life expectancy of six months or less, and his state continues to decrease.

A person who is at the end of life can live:

• Decrease in food intake
• Difficulty swallowing food and medication
• Loss of appetite
• Important mobility problems

Care during this stage focuses on physical, psychological and spiritual comfort care, with frequent care plan reviews.

This step is difficult for dear beings because they face goodbye. The palliative care team is also available to provide support to loved ones.

The individual can stay in his own house or move to a care agreement, such as a hospital, a palliative care establishment or a nursing home.

5.

This step is to support beings dear after the death of the individual. Mourning care helps relatives to browse the mourning process.

The support that can be offered includes the connection with support groups, psychologists and advisers and the support of religious or spiritual leaders.

What suppliers are involved at different stages?

People receiving palliative care can generally remain in the custody of their primary health care provider, with the support of providers who specialize or are trained in palliative care.

A palliative care team may include:

• Doctors
• Nurses
• Practitioner nurses
• Doctor assistants
• Psychologists and other mental health professionals
• Social workers
• Spiritual leaders
• Recorded dietitists
• Massage
• Physiotherapists
• Occupational therapists
• Pharmacists
• Financial advisers
• Legal advisers

Palliative care may be available:

• Hospitals
• Home care agencies
• Cancer centers
• Long -term care establishments
• Palliative care
• Palliative Care Clinics
• Palliative care units in a hospital

Where to find palliative care services

When you are looking for information on available palliative care services, your primary care provider or a specialist in processing your disease is a good starting point.

Palliative care in the United States is generally covered by health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. If you are not covered or if you do not know if you are, talk to the hospital’s financial advisor or a social worker.

Resources that can be useful for finding palliative care include:

Key dishes to remember

• Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life of people with serious illness and their loved ones.
• Palliative care can have five stages (stable, unstable, deteriorated, terminal and mourning), but not all individuals progress towards all stages, and the stages can be experienced in a different order.
• Palliative care is interdisciplinary, involving a team of professionals who may include doctors, nurses, therapists, spiritual leaders, dietitists, etc.