While many people see Palliative care and hospice being used interchangeably, there’s actually a difference between the two. The relatively new medical speciality is similar to hospice, but isn’t only for people who are in need of end-of-life care.
What is Palliative care?
Palliative care is the speciality that focuses on the quality of life. By improving life and providing comfort to all ages, palliative care deals with people who suffer from serious, chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Patients who suffer from illnesses like cancer, heart failure, COPD, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS and more qualify for palliative care.
What is the Goal of Palliative Care?
Palliative care is more than just relieving the suffering caused from illness symptoms. It’s about giving the best possible care for patients and their families. Many patients deal with pain, depression and more when trying to manage their symptoms, but as a team, palliative care offers strength and medical help to improve the quality of life. When dealing with illnesses like cancer, heart failure and more, patients can get severe fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping and more. With Palliative Care, patients are tended for and assisted with daily life tasks. Because palliative care teams are specialists that work together with you, your family and other doctors, they provide an extra layer of support. In addition to helping treat and manage your symptoms and stress, palliative care supports you and your family when you need it most and they communicate with your team of doctors to make sure that everyone is up to date with your care.
Understanding Palliative Care
Palliative care is best viewed as a resource for people who are suffering from an illness that may or may not be terminal at the moment. Because Palliative care focuses more on improving the quality of life while dealing with an illness, it’s important to know that palliative care also helps patients deal with symptoms and help patients understand the choices they’ve made for medical treatment. No treatment path is the same, so no palliative care is the same. Palliative care can include organizing specific services for people, which can be helpful to older patients suffering from an illness that may or may not have a family support team. Palliative care can also be provided with curative treatment.
Where Can Someone Get Palliative Care?
Palliative care can be provided in just about any place. Whether you’re located in a hospital or a nursing home, outpatient palliative care clinics can also service other specialized clinics or even patients at home.
How To Receive Palliative Care
Many insurance policies, including Medicare and Medicaid, may cover palliative care for patients. Patients like Veterans can be eligible for palliative care through the Department of Veterans Affairs, which offers information on how a veteran who suffers from illnesses can be given palliative care. If you’re someone who has private insurance, speak to an agent to find out what portion of palliative care they can cover, if it’s not all of it. Health insurance providers are knowledgeable about how a patient can receive palliative care and can answer any and all questions about what is and isn’t covered with your specific plans.