Palliative care is specialized care for people living with serious illnesses. It’s focused on treating symptoms and the mental repercussions of serious medical issues, as well as improving the patient’s day-to-day life. It’s not a last resort, though, and can be given in parallel with curative treatment. Palliative care makes living with or being treated for a serious illness much easier on the patient and their family through a strong communication and support system.
Who gives palliative care?
Palliative care is given by doctors and nurses that are specially trained, as well as other healthcare professionals. These caregivers also work with the patient’s other doctors to streamline the care given.
What happens during palliative care?
Palliative care consists of everything that a patient may need outside of curative care.
This may include:
- Communication with family and loved ones
- This can take the burden off of the patient or the parent/guardian that the information is shared first. This helps make the whole process much easier emotionally.
- Communication between healthcare professionals and patient
- This helps serve as a translator as well as a source of empathy for the patient. Sometimes, the doctors and nurses are focused on the end result of the treatment, and neglect communication with the patient. Palliative care can help bridge that information gap.
- Emotional and social support
- Palliative caregivers are trained to help deal with emotional issues that may arise from serious illnesses. They provide support and specialized care for these side effects, which significantly reduces the emotional burden on the patient and the family.
- Communication between doctors and caregivers
- This helps streamline the process of care and makes it easier to understand how the patient is being treated. This also takes this responsibility off of the patient or their family and reduces costs related to avoidable medical expenditures.
Overall, palliative care is a good thing to consider if you or a loved one is living with a serious illness. It can help you save money, and lessens the emotional and mental burden on you and your family. If you have more questions about palliative care, your primary care physician is a good place to start. If you’re looking for a primary care physician in Plano, Irving, or Frisco, call us at 214-666-6259 or schedule an appointment in the contact tab above the post.
Author Jai Sammpath
