Hospice and Palliative Care at True Care:
At True Care, clients and their families can count on receiving personalized, deeply-felt, and highly sensitive hospice and palliative care services from a team of experienced caregivers and healthcare professionals. Whether your loved one requires pain management, symptom control, emotional support, or a combination of all three, True Care is committed to providing the highest quality of home-based care to help our clients and their
families navigate the challenges of serious and life-limiting illness.
At True Care, our palliative care providers serve with compassion, dignity, and respect. If you’re curious about how palliative care could benefit you or a loved one, reach out to us today. We’ll help explain all parts of the process and develop an individualized plan for your loved one, because that’s True Care.
What is Hospice Care ?
Hospice care is a specialized type of care that is intended for individuals who are facing a life-limiting illness and are no longer pursuing curative treatment. The goal of hospice care is to provide comfort, dignity, and emotional support to clients and their families during this challenging time. Hospice care can be provided in the client’s home, a nursing home, or a hospice facility, and typically includes pain management, symptom control, and emotional and spiritual support. When individuals and loved ones’ paths lead them to the need for hospice care, True Care is here to ensure every need is met.
What is Palliative Care ?
Palliative care is a specialized type of care that is intended for individuals who are living with a serious illness but are still pursuing curative treatment. The goal of palliative care is to improve the client’s quality of life by managing symptoms, providing emotional support, and helping clients and families make informed decisions about their care.
Palliative care is an interdisciplinary approach that involves a team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, social workers, and chaplains/clergy, who work together to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of clients and their families. Our Nurses and Caregivers/Home Health Aides complete the care delivery team, working in tandem to carry out the client’s plan of care.
Clients who seek palliative care may have a wide range of illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, respiratory diseases, neurological diseases, and chronic conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease. Palliative care can also be appropriate for individuals who are undergoing treatment for a serious illness, but are experiencing symptoms such as pain, nausea, or fatigue that are impacting their quality of life.
Why Choose Palliative Care ?
If you or a loved one are facing serious illness, you may be wondering if and when palliative care may be appropriate. The answer will vary depending on each unique situation, however there are some important cues to look for that may indicate that it’s time to seek palliative care in addition to curative treatment.
There are several factors and indicators that someone could consider when deciding whether to add palliative care to their treatment plan. One of the main factors is the presence of a serious illness that is impacting one’s quality of life. This could include symptoms such as:
Another factor to consider is the impact that the illness is having on the person’s ability to carry out daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, or eating. If the illness is causing significant functional impairment, palliative care may be a helpful addition to the curative treatment plan.
People who are undergoing treatment for a serious illness, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, may also benefit from palliative care. These treatments can cause side effects such as pain, fatigue, or nausea, which can be effectively managed with palliative care.
Other indicators that someone may benefit from palliative care include frequent hospitalizations or emergency room visits, difficulty managing multiple medications, or a desire to improve communication with healthcare providers and family members about treatment goals and/or end-of-life care.
Ultimately, the decision to add palliative care to a treatment plan should be based on the needs and goals of the individual. Palliative care can provide important physical, emotional, and spiritual support to individuals with serious illnesses, and can help improve their quality of life and overall well-being.
How Can Palliative Care Help Primary Physicians ?
Palliative care and primary Physicians have a complementary relationship that can greatly benefit those living with serious and/or life-limiting illnesses. Primary Physicians are responsible for providing curative treatment to their clients, while palliative care teams focus on providing relief from the symptoms and stress associated with serious illnesses.
Palliative care teams can also provide emotional and spiritual support to people and their families, which can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being. This support can extend to attending Physicians as well, who may be experiencing emotional strain while caring for clients with serious illnesses.
The relationship between palliative care and primary Physicians is one of collaboration and support. By working together, they can provide comprehensive care to people living with serious and/or life-limiting illnesses, and help improve their quality of life and overall well-being.
Palliative care teams work closely with Physicians to provide a comprehensive approach to care. They can provide support and guidance to primary Physicians in managing symptoms such as pain, nausea, or fatigue, and can help develop a plan of care that is tailored to the needs and goals of the individual.
Palliative care teams can help facilitate communication between primary Physicians, those under their care, and their families about treatment goals and end-of-life care. This can help ensure that people receive care that is aligned with their wishes and values, and ensures that the lines of communication between the client and their care team remain open.
How Does Palliative Care Differ from Hospice Care?
Palliative care and hospice care are both specialized types of medical care that are focused on improving the quality of life for individuals with serious illnesses, but there are subtle yet distinct differences between the two.
Palliative Care
Palliative care can be provided at any stage of an illness and is appropriate for individuals of any age, from young children to much older clients. The goal of palliative care is to provide relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress that can be associated with a serious illness, while also providing emotional and spiritual support to clients and their families. Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatment and is not limited to end-of-life care.
Clients who are seeking palliative care may have a wide range of illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, respiratory diseases, neurological diseases, and chronic conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease. Palliative care can also be appropriate for individuals who are undergoing treatment for a serious illness, but are experiencing symptoms such as pain, nausea, or fatigue that are impacting their quality of life.
Hospice Care
Hospice care, on the other hand, is a type of care that is specifically designed for individuals who are in the final stages of a terminal illness and are no longer seeking curative treatment. The goal of hospice care is to provide comfort and support to clients and their families during the end-of-life process. Hospice care focuses on managing and alleviating symptoms such as pain, nausea, and anxiety, while also providing emotional and spiritual support to clients and their families.
Clients who are seeking hospice care are typically in the final stages of a terminal illness and have a life expectancy of six months or less. Hospice care is appropriate for individuals who are no longer seeking curative treatment and are focused on managing symptoms and improving quality of life during the end-of-life process.
Overall, while there are similarities between palliative care and hospice care, the two types of care are distinct and are appropriate for different types of clients at different stages of illness. No matter the stage, True Care is equipped to help face the challenges of serious and life-limiting disease for all our clients.
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