Do you have a relative suffering from a serious, long-term illness? If so, they may be in tremendous pain and discomfort. The good news is there is care available to improve their standard of living and ease their pain. Palliative care is a type of care that aims to provide relief from physical pain and symptoms, as well as mental symptoms like anxiety and depression. Palliative care can be provided at any point in the care process. It can occur during curative treatment or in end-of-life situations where recovery is no longer a goal. Below are three places to find palliative care for your loved one.

Hospitals

Hospitals will provide palliative care when possible. Usually, a hospital will provide this care when recovery is still the main objective. For example, the hospital may prescribe anti-nausea medication to offset the side effects of chemotherapy. They could administer sedation in the aftermath of a particularly difficult treatment. They may even change treatments and medications to reduce pain, anxiety, nausea, and other symptoms. Once recovery is no longer the goal, moving on to another form of palliative care outside of a hospital setting is usually necessary.

In-Home Care

It’s also possible to provide palliative care in the home. This is an option when a person suffers from a long-term illness but doesn’t require hospitalization. In some cases, a family member can provide palliative treatment. It may simply be the process of administering drugs. In other cases, bringing in a home health aide or other providers may be necessary. For example, if the person needs to be sedated or requires IVs, that may be beyond the skill set of a family member. Hiring a professional who can administer drugs correctly and advise on reducing pain and stress may be more appropriate.

Hospice

Hospice is the leading provider of palliative care. Hospice provides end-of-life care to those no longer seeking a cure or recovery for their ailment. When you go to hospice care, you and your loved ones have typically accepted that the end of life is near. Under hospice care, your curative treatments are usually ended; the goal is simply to provide comfort and peace. Hospice may administer pain relief drugs and even sedate the patient in some instances.

Ready to obtain quality palliative care for your loved one? Contact us today to start the conversation.

Posted April 9, 2023