For people with serious illnesses, there are various options available to help them control their symptoms right now, including special care available right now.

What is palliative care?

Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life of patients with serious illnesses. In palliative care, patients with severe or life-threatening illnesses are given attention to their physical, psychological, and spiritual needs. By alleviating symptoms, pain, loss of function, and stress caused by severe illnesses, palliative care enables patients to live as comfortably as possible. Palliative care can provide relief from Dementia, heart, kidney, lung disease, neurologic conditions, Cancer, and any serious illness, regardless of whether it is curable, chronic, or life-threatening.

A primary goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for the patient and the family during a difficult time. The palliative care team works with a patient’s other doctors to provide extra support through the use of doctors, nurses, and specialists. Treatment can be provided at any age and stage of serious illness and at any stage of illness.

Why consider palliative care?

It can be challenging to manage the symptoms of advanced or complex diseases, which can negatively affect your ability to maximize healing and enjoy life. To help you control your symptoms and communicate about your care options, palliative care works hand in hand with curative care. It focuses on improving comfort and quality of life for patients and their families as well as lessening the impact of physical issues on emotional well-being. In some cases, palliative care has been able to extend the life expectancy of the patient.

There is a difference between palliative care and hospice. It is possible to receive palliative care at any stage of an illness, even if there is a chance of a cure. In hospice care, patients may have less than a year left to live when they are at the end stages of their illness.

What does palliative care do?

·       Pain and symptom control: With the help of our palliative care team, we can identify the causes of your discomfort and pain. The symptoms may include difficulty breathing, fatigue, depression, insomnia, or problems with the bowels or bladders. The team will then provide treatments that can provide relief. Relaxation techniques and medication may be included in these treatments.

·       Communication and coordination: Our palliative care teams are extremely good communicators. To ensure that all of your needs are met, we strongly encourage communication between you, your family, caregivers, and your personal healthcare team. We will assist you in establishing your care goals, assisting you with decision-making, and coordinating care, among other things.

·       Emotional support: Palliative care focuses on the entire person, not just the illness. Whether you have social, psychological, emotional, or spiritual needs, the team members caring for you will address them.

·       Support for families and caregivers: Caregivers also undergo significant stress, so our palliative care team offers them support. There is no doubt that this kind of focused attention can ease the strain and help you make better decisions as well.

Do you offer palliative care at any time?

All patients can receive palliative care at any stage of serious illness. Your doctor may request palliative care consultations for the following reasons:

·       Pain relief and other treatments: We provide expert treatment to relieve pain and other burdensome symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, and loss of appetite.

·       Emotional and spiritual support for the patient and family: A severe illness can be frightening for the patient and family, and it can be isolating for those of us who are directly affected by it. While undergoing palliative care, patients and their caregivers can communicate and support one another.

·       Guidance on medical information and treatment options: Medical information and treatment options can be overwhelming and confusing. Providing palliative care can help individuals define and achieve their personal healthcare goals by coordinating health information and care providers.