The term “palliative care” is still widely misunderstood by many people.
Some might think of it as hospice care, and others might associate it with treating individuals with life-threatening illnesses.
In simple terms, palliative care is an interdisciplinary medical caregiving approach focused on optimizing the quality of life and lessening the suffering among individuals with a serious, critical illness.
Are you considering palliative care for someone close to you?
Palliative care can make your life — and your loved one’s life — much more manageable. It can be performed along with the support and care received from primary doctors.
While doctors and a medical team treat the illness directly, a palliative care team will help with pain management, treating depression and anxiety, spiritual needs, and the physical symptoms of severe medications and treatments.
To help dispel common myths surrounding palliative care, we’ve compiled a list of general misconceptions about the healthcare approach.
Myth: Palliative Care is Only Offered in Hospitals
Palliative care is, of course, offered in hospitals, but it doesn’t end there.
It’s also provided in assisted living facilities, long-term healthcare homes, and in your loved one’s residence.
If your friend or family member would prefer to receive palliative care in the comfort of their own home, consider Integracare’s palliative care services — they provide compassionate home healthcare.
Their certified and professional caregivers offer the highest quality in palliative care, and patients won’t have to leave the familiarity of home. They’ll feel safe in a private space.
Myth: Palliative Care is Only for Cancer Patients
Palliative care can be beneficial to patients and their families from the time of diagnosis of any illness.
If someone you love has a life-threatening condition, palliative care can help reduce or relieve the physical and emotional side effects and symptoms.
Cancer is just one of many illnesses that can be treated with palliative care, including:
- Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Congestive heart failure
- Kidney failure
- Chronic lung disease
- And more
The goal is to improve a patient’s life by providing compassionate care and support from healthcare professionals when they’ve been diagnosed with a severe illness — of any kind.
Myth: Palliative Care Hastens End of Life
This is absolutely untrue. Palliative care doesn’t speed up the end of life. However, it does provide comfort and the best quality of life from diagnosis of a serious illness until the end of life.
The treatments for a serious illness can be harsh on patients’ bodies and minds.
Palliative care helps reduce physical and psychological pain through a holistic approach to healthcare, including massage therapy and compassionate counseling.
The idea is to work with many healthcare professionals to give people the best care and improve their lives during a challenging time.
It’s about comfort and bringing joy to people who need it.
If you’re thinking about adding an extra layer of support to your loved one, consider the benefits of palliative care.
Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do when someone you love is in pain. Leave it to the experts and find the right at-home palliative care provider.