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Palliative care is about making someone as comfortable as possible during their illness and treatment for it. This includes:
- Pain management
- Physical and emotional support (this extends to family and carers too)
- Alleviation of any distressing or overwhelming symptoms
- Help to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family
- Planning for complications or death
CTA Palliative home care from Cavendish Homecare see what we can help you with
When does palliative care start?
Palliative doesn’t always mean that a person is dying so it can start at any point during a period of illness. Because it is used to make people as comfortable as possible, palliative care may be used to support other treatments that are particularly difficult, stressful or invasive. It helps to make life as easy as possible for both the person experiencing illness and their family and carers.
Who provides palliative care and what does it cover?
Palliative care can be given by specialists in their fields, your GP, community nurses and home care nurses. Although certain aspects of palliative care require specialist knowledge, it also covers a wide range of other services. Assessment of your needs may come from your doctor, but pain relief or complementary therapies may require support from palliative care specialists.
Palliative care is generally considered to be split into two main types: General and Specialist.
General care can include:
- Assessment of your needs at every necessary point during your illness and treatment
- Suggestions for other services that might be helpful and available to you
- Symptom and pain control through medication or therapies
- Practical support. This could include providing help with day-to-day activities
- Social and spiritual support. Help with attending groups or religious meetings may be included
- Coordination of the teams/people put in place to help you
Specialist care covers the services that general care providers cannot give. This includes:
- Therapies such as physio or occupational therapy
- Religious support
- Home care – some people may require live-in carers to help them
- Psychological support – therapists or counsellors who are trained to deal with the emotions around illness and grief may be required at any point during palliative care
Palliative care is available through the NHS and some voluntary organisations, or you may seek to use a private specialist care provider.
Receiving palliative care at home
When we are unwell, it is often comforting to be at home amongst familiar surroundings and people. This is why some people choose to receive palliative care at home. It may also be a necessity if they are unable to travel to and from hospitals or therapists due to illness.
Palliative home care can involve:
- Assistance with personal care – bathing, dressing and using the toilet etc.
- Help with taking or administering medication
- Pain management
- Cleaning your home
- Meal preparation
- Help to care for any pets you may have
- Errands like food shopping or collecting prescriptions
- Supporting independent living – including helping you to move around
What can I expect from a palliative home care plan?
As we mentioned, some people receive palliative care at home rather than in a hospital or hospice. This could be through choice or necessity, but in either case, a plan will be put in place to help manage your care.
You can choose to have a live-in carer or receive regular home visits. And when you are looking for palliative home care you will need to ask questions to help you find the best fit for you or a loved one. You may wish to refer to our Questions to ask when looking for a home nursing advice piece, as some of the important queries you may have are similar.
A palliative home care plan will need to include:
- Details of the illness being treated
- Medications to be taken
- Requirements for any mobility needs
- Timings for care (if you prefer to eat meals at a certain time or take medications etc.)
- Dietary requirements
- Religious beliefs that may affect the care or needs of the family
- Details of who to contact in the case of an emergency
As with any kind of home nursing, you will need to discuss your requirements with whoever you choose to provide the care. You must get bespoke care, tailored to your needs.
Some care providers may be able to work alongside other palliative care resources such as Marie Curie Nurses
The benefits of palliative care at home
Being at home is comforting for a lot of people, especially when we are not feeling well. Receiving palliative care at home can relieve stress and means you are surrounded by people you know and trust, as well as your belongings and home comforts.
Visiting times at hospitals or in hospices can be limited. At home, friends and family can visit you when it suits you. It also means that you can get round-the-clock care from a dedicated carer, instead of waiting for ward rounds. Your carer can help you to keep family updated, instead of them having to wait a little longer for an update.
Cavendish Homecare’s palliative care is based on our passion and experience for delivering the best care possible. If you have questions about what we offer, please get in touch.
