Palliative care can provide helpful medical and emotional support as you or a loved one battles an illness or nears end of life. But when should you start considering this type of care? This post will help you identify when it might be the right time and how it can benefit you.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care attempts to improve the quality of life for people with terminal or chronic illnesses. It is not meant to cure the illness. Rather, palliative care focuses on easing symptoms, managing pain and addressing emotional, psychological and spiritual concerns. It’s a holistic approach that supports both the patient and their family.
It’s often misunderstood as end-of-life care, but that’s not entirely accurate. End-of-life care is more hospice. Palliative care is appropriate at any stage of a serious illness and can occur alongside curative treatments.
Signs It’s Time To Consider Palliative Care
If you’re unsure whether you should start considering palliative care for yourself or a loved one, ask yourself if any of the following circumstances apply.
1. Experiencing Difficult Symptoms
If the illness comes with chronic pain, breathlessness, fatigue, nausea or other symptoms that are interfering with daily life, palliative care could help. It aims to provide relief to improve day-to-day comfort.
2. Visiting the Hospital Repeatedly
Frequent trips to the ER or hospital admissions for symptoms or complications of an illness can be signs that additional support is necessary. Palliative care offers proactive care, support and planning.
3. Experiencing Emotional Exhaustion or Anxiety
Living with a serious illness takes an emotional toll. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious or unsure of what lies ahead, palliative care includes counseling and psychosocial support to address these concerns.
4. Needing for Guidance With Complex Medical Decisions
Navigating difficult discussions about treatment options and future care can be daunting. Palliative care teams provide clear guidance to ensure decisions align with personal goals and values, empowering patients and families to make informed choices.
Why Start Early?
One of the main misconceptions about palliative care is that it should occur only near end of life. As we have already covered, palliative care can support during this period, but it is not exclusive to it. The sooner palliative care begins, the more time you have to experience its many benefits. Studies have shown that for cancer patients, early palliative care not only improves quality of life but can also extend life expectancy by easing stress and managing symptoms more effectively.
What To Do Next
If you think palliative care could benefit you or a loved one, talk to your healthcare provider. They can connect you with a palliative care team to create a tailored plan that meets your unique needs.
