Although the two terms are often conflated, palliative care is different from end-of-life care. Whereas end-of-life care is kind of self-explanatory, palliative care is treatment, support and care for people with a life limiting or terminal illness. Palliative care is intended to help people with these illnesses live life as fully as possible by easing their pain or suffering as well as the fear and pain experienced by their families.
Palliative care is delivered by a team of healthcare professionals, the exact makeup of which varies from person to person. This team is designed to help a person with a life-limiting or terminal disease come to grips with their diagnosis, help them with their symptoms and their families with their grief and uncertainty. The palliative care team can include a number of healthcare professionals including:
- Nurses
- Occupational therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Primary care physician
- Psychologists
- Social workers
- Specialists
This team works together to deliver a variety of integrated physical and mental healthcare outcomes, such as:
- Counselling and grief support
- Emotional support
- Family support and therapy
- Managing pain and other physical symptoms
- Referrals to respite and other care services
- Resources and equipment for in home care
- Social/in home care including washing, cleaning and food preparation
Who is Eligible for Palliative Care
Palliative care is for anyone with life limiting or terminal disease, regardless of age. A child or teenager is just as eligible for palliative care as an adult or the elderly. Care can start at any time after diagnosis. Depending on the severity of the diagnosis, starting palliative care immediately can be beneficial, allowing both the primary patient and their family to better cope with the diagnosis. Another diagnosis may only require care when physical symptoms become serious years after the initial diagnosis.
Find advice on palliative care and book an appointment with a doctor today .
What is End-of-Life Care?
While palliative care is designed to help people live as full a life as possible with a terminal or life limiting illness, end-of-life care is provided for people in the last stages of their life. The goals of end-of-life care are similar to those of palliative care - easing pain, emotional support and therapy for both the patient and their family, and the like - but the aim is different. Whereas palliative care is about life, end-of-life care is more about preparing a patient and their loved ones for death. While this may sound somewhat morbid, helping people with terminal illnesses and their families better accept the inevitable can make the last months of a person’s life much more comfortable and fulfilling.
Dignity and respect are two of the key hallmarks of end-of-life care and a major component of any care plan is geared towards these goals. Allowing people to choose the setting for the end of their life, allowing them autonomy outside of care and promoting discussion of death between the patient and their family can help not only with acceptance but with dealing with the loss of a loved one as well.
National Palliative Care Week
May 24-30 2020 is National Palliative Care Week . For more information or to help spread awareness of this valuable healthcare service, Palliative Care Australia provides information, provider listings and news about palliative care in Australia.
If you’re looking for advice or guidance through palliative care, the easiest and most efficient way to find and book an appointment with a doctor , psychologist or specialist is with MyHealth1st.