Palliative care is a type of medical care provided to individuals who have to live with serious illnesses throughout their lives in order to make it easier for them to cope with their illness. The aim of palliative care is to reduce the symptoms of a life-threatening disease and the stress experienced by the patient. In this way, the quality of life of both the patient and the patient’s relatives can be increased. There is a special center for palliative treatment and a special team to apply the treatment. Palliative care is determined according to the needs of the patient and its content may vary from patient to patient. You can read the rest of the article to learn more about palliative care.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care center is one of the important departments in the field of health. Palliative care can be applied to individuals with a serious or life-threatening illness to enable them to live a better life and increase their comfort. Palliative practices may vary from person to person; However, it generally provides physical, spiritual and educational care. The aim of palliative care, which takes into account the wishes of the patients, is to improve the general health of the patients. Palliative care, sometimes called supportive care, addresses the symptoms and stress experienced by patients who have to live with a chronic illness. It can also provide support for patients’ relatives and caregivers. Multiple goals are determined in the palliative care plan, which is shaped according to individual needs. These goals can be listed as follows:
- Alleviation of all symptoms, including the side effects of the treatment administered to the patient
- Prevent progression of the disease by closely monitoring it
- Identifying material and spiritual needs and taking steps towards these
- Helping the patient cope with emotional changes related to the disease
- Assisting the patient in understanding the appropriate treatment method for the disease, deciding on treatments, and coordinating the plan of care.
- Identifying and accessing additional resources to provide holistic support to the patient
How to Receive Palliative Care?
Certain conditions are necessary to receive palliative care. First consulting with a doctor or healthcare professional about your illness and condition can help determine whether you are eligible for palliative care. When it is determined that you need palliative care, your doctor may refer you to a palliative care service. When applying to the doctor for palliative care, the patient can present the symptoms of the disease he has and the effects of these symptoms on his daily life in the form of a list. He/she should also inform the doctor about the medications used and past medical history. It may be helpful for you to have a friend or family member with you when applying for palliative care. Once the doctor provides your referral to palliative care, you can prepare a care plan with the palliative care team. When preparing the care plan, the symptoms caused by the disease and the treatment plan you are receiving are taken into consideration. Because the palliative care plan offers care aimed at reducing the patient’s symptoms and the side effects of the treatment. In addition, when preparing a care plan, the patient’s mental health, family members and how their daily life will be affected are also evaluated. The palliative care plan is carried out in conjunction with other treatments the patient receives. If the patient’s needs change, the palliative care plan may change accordingly. Palliative care may also include more advanced care or end-of-life planning depending on the patient’s needs.
For which diseases is palliative care applied?
Palliative care may be an option for many illnesses. However, in general, diseases that require palliative care can be listed as follows:
Cancer : Both the symptoms of cancer and the side effects seen in its treatment often negatively affect the quality of life of patients. Therefore, palliative care can be applied for cancer patients. However, palliative care in cancer may include a care plan that differs from person to person. The factors taken into consideration when preparing these maintenance plans can be listed as follows:
- type of cancer
- symptoms
- The type of treatment applied to the patient
- Patient’s age
- course of the disease
A patient recently diagnosed with cancer may receive palliative care to control the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy and to recover faster after surgery.
Cardiovascular diseases: Cardiovascular diseases can reduce a person’s quality of life and prevent them from meeting their daily needs. Some cardiovascular diseases that require palliative care can be listed as follows:
- Heart failure
- coronary artery disease
- Stroke
- aortic stenosis
Dementia: Dementia disease can lead to deterioration of brain functions and a decrease in the individual’s quality of life. Dementia greatly affects the following parts of an individual:
- Memory and cognition
- Speech
- Judgment and evaluation
- Behaviour
Dementia can also cause high anxiety and stress in individuals. As an individual’s dementia progresses, family members and caregivers may have difficulty caring for the patient. Therefore, dementia patients can improve their quality of life and that of their family members by receiving palliative care.
COPD : COPD is a respiratory disease that causes respiratory distress in individuals and can lead to more serious illnesses if left untreated. With palliative care, an appropriate care plan can be prepared for patients who have difficulty breathing and whose quality of life decreases accordingly. Additionally, shortness of breath can cause high anxiety and insomnia in individuals. Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life of patients by educating them about how to manage COPD.
Palliative care is generally a suitable treatment method for patients who have to live with a serious illness for life. Palliative care aims to provide holistic benefit to the patient by providing both physical and spiritual well-being. In some cases, patients may also undergo surgical procedures. The palliative surgery center aims to improve the health status of patients by performing appropriate surgical procedures.
Palliative Care Conditions
Palliative care, also known as supportive care, is applied to patients who have a serious illness and need support to cope with this illness. Especially chronic patients may need palliative care more as they get older. Palliative care can be applied in the palliative service or at home, depending on the patient’s condition and wishes. There are various conditions for palliative care to be applied to a patient. These conditions can be listed as follows:
- The patient is bedridden
- Since they are not fed orally , they are fed enterally (introducing food directly into the stomach or intestines through a tube) or parenterally .
- Having severe pain
- Risk of falling due to aging and incontinence (inability to retain liquid or solid stool) problem
- Developing advanced pressure sores
- End-stage cancer patients
- Those with chronic neurological diseases (for example, dementia patients)
- Those with severe muscle diseases
Palliative intensive care can generally be recommended for individuals with chronic diseases for which there is no definitive treatment. However, any individual with a serious and life-threatening illness can receive palliative care. There are many palliative centers that provide services in this regard. Admission requirements for palliative care at these centers may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
The palliative care center aims to improve the quality of life of individuals with serious illnesses by helping them cope with their illnesses. You can find frequently asked questions and answers about this subject in the rest of the article.
What is done in palliative care?
The palliative care plan is prepared in accordance with the symptoms, needs and daily lifestyle of the patient who will receive care. First of all, the symptoms experienced by the patient and the side effects of the treatment he receives are discussed and a treatment plan is created for them. This care plan aims to increase the patient’s quality of life by increasing their comfort. Some symptoms that can be alleviated or prevented in palliative care can be listed as follows:
- severe pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- High anxiety and stress
- respiratory distress
- sleep problems
- Fatigue and weakness
- Diarrhea and constipation
How Long Does Palliative Care Last?
The duration of palliative care may vary depending on the patient’s condition and the course of the disease. Palliative service generally aims to prioritize the patient’s peace and health. Palliative care, which aims to increase the patient’s well-being, tries to keep the general health condition above a certain level. Therefore, palliative care does not have a specific duration. If you think you need palliative care, you can get more detailed information about your disease and symptoms by consulting your doctor.
