What Is Palliative Care?
SDI Productions / Getty Images
Medically reviewed by Jane Kim, MD
Palliative care is a specialized form of healthcare for people who have a serious illness. A specially trained team of healthcare providers work together to provide treatment and comfort. The primary goals of palliative care are to improve the person's quality life, support their family members, and focus on relieving both symptoms and stress.
An estimated 56.8 million people—including 25.7 million in the last year of their life—need palliative care each year. But currently, only 14% of those people who are in need actually receive it.
Palliative care is based on a person's needs and not on their prognosis. That means this type of care is appropriate for any age ant any stage of a serious illness and can be provided alongside treatments designed to cure the disease.
What Is Included in Palliative Care?
Palliative care is designed to address the specific needs of each person. For this reason, each person's palliative care plan will be different and can address a broad range of issues that are tailored for the person who is receiving care.
Typically, a palliative care specialist will consider a variety of elements when developing a care plan Here are some things that could be addressed with a palliative care plan:
Emotional needs: There are a broad range of emotions that can emerge when coping with a serious illness. For this reason, palliative care can address depression, anxiety, fear, stress, and more.
Physical needs: From pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath to nausea, vomiting, and insomnia, palliative care specialists can ensure the physical needs of the patient are being met.
Spiritual needs: Being diagnosed with a serious illness also can impact a person's belief system, whether by bringing it into question or making it stronger. Consequently, the palliative care team can help people examine their beliefs and how it relates to their illness. The ultimate goal is to help them find a sense of peace or come to accept the reality of their situation.
Practical needs: Palliative care also can include assistance with financial concerns, legal worries, insurance questions, and employment issues. The care team also can help the patient and their family determine what types of instructions are needed, such as advance directives, which are legal documents that let others know your loved one's wishes.
Caregiver needs: Taking care of a family member who is seriously ill can be challenging. Caregivers may struggle with how to care for their family member. Or, they may not know how to balance their time caring for their loved one with time for their other obligations. Palliative care can help caregivers learn how to cope with their situation.
Related: What I Wish I Knew About Palliative Care for Breast Cancer When Caring for My Mom
Who Needs Palliative Care?
Regardless of what stage into your serious illness you are, palliative care can occur at any time. However, some experts believe it is best provided as soon as a person is diagnosed. Not only can palliative care improve a person's quality of life and help with symptom management, but it also can help them understand their options when it comes to their treatment plan.
Palliative care is open to anyone who is living with a serious illness. Any condition that increases your risk of dying, prevents you from doing your daily routine, or decreases your quality of life can be considered a serious illness.
While the list of illnesses that are best suited for palliative care are endless, there are some of the common illnesses people have when they (or their family members) seek palliative care:
Heart failure
Cancer
Dementia
COVID-19
Kidney failure
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
The American Society of Clinical Oncology actually recommends that everyone with advanced cancer get palliative care alongside their normal cancer treatments. The group also suggests that newly diagnosed patients be offered palliative care no later than eight weeks after their diagnosis.
Where to Receive Palliative Care
Palliative care can be provided in a variety of locations. For instance, people might get palliative care in a hospital, a long-term care facility, cancer center, outpatient palliative care clinic, specialized clinic, or at home.
There are professionals that specialize in this type of treatment that typically form a palliative care team. Here are some providers who are often a part of a palliative care team:
Doctors
Physician assistants
Nurses and nurse practitioners
Registered dietitians
Psychologists
Social workers
Massage therapists
Chaplains
What Are The Benefits of Palliative Care?
The primary goals of palliative care is to improve the patient's quality of life and support the family members. Consequently, when a palliative care plan has been put into place, there are a number of other ways the care can positively affect your loved ones. Here are some ways people may benefit from palliative care:
Improves quality of life: Some research suggests that integrating palliative care into a person's usual care soon after diagnosis of advanced cancer can improve their quality of life and mood. Likewise, a study involving people with Parkinson's and similar conditions scored higher on quality-of-life assessments than those with traditional treatment alone.
Decreases the cost of care: People may mistakenly believe that palliative care should only be used at the end of life. But research has shown that putting a palliative care plan in place in the early stages of a disease may actually decrease care costs in the long term.
Reduces the risk of mood disorders: Having a serious illness can have a huge impact on mental health. But research suggests that early palliative care may help prevent mood disorders. In fact, one study found that early palliative care may lower the risk of depression in people newly diagnosed with advanced cancer.
Improves survival: Research suggests that early palliative care may help people live longer. In fact, research shows that because depression and mortality rates are connected, early palliative care may not only reduce the risk of depression, but also may prolong survival.
Provides a support system: Palliative care is designed to help people with serious illnesses live active lives until they are no longer able. The specialists who implement the care plan also help caregivers and other family members cope with the person's illness and death.
What Is the Difference Between Palliative Care and Hospice?
Both palliative care and hospice are are meant to improve people's quality of life while they are sick. But while palliative care can begin at any time during the treatment process—even when a person is initially diagnosed—hospice care is initiated when a person is nearing the end of their life. Typically, hospice care is begun when healthcare providers think someone has fewer than six months to live.
Palliative care can be given alongside curative treatments like chemotherapy. People in hospice care no longer receive treatments that are meant to cure the illness either because the treatment is no longer working or there are more negative effects of treatment than benefits. Instead, the sole focus of hospice care is providing comfort in a person's last months.
Is Palliative Care the Right Choice?
Living with a serious illness can be daunting for everyone involved. Not only can the person diagnosed with the disease experience pain, discomfort, and emotional distress, but they may also have trouble adjusting to all the changes. When this happens, palliative care may be beneficial for the person and their loved ones.
It is also important to note that you do not have to wait until you or your family member are in the advanced stages of the disease to get help. You may be eligible for palliative care even when you or your family member are initially diagnosed.
If you have decided that palliative care is right for you or your family member, you can start by visiting the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization website to find a provider near you. Or you can talk to a healthcare provider about getting the process started.
How Do You Pay for Palliative Care?
Most insurance providers will cover some portion of palliative care services. Likewise, Medicare or Medicaid also cover most of the services. Veterans may be eligible for care through the Department of Veteran Affairs.
If you do not have insurance, of if you are underinsured, you can discuss how you might pay for palliative care with a social worker, financial advisor at your hospital or clinic, or a care manager. They can answer your questions and point you toward the appropriate resources so you can get the services covered.
A Quick Review
Palliative care is a specialized form of healthcare designed to improve the quality of life for people with serious illnesses. Someone can be eligible for palliative care at any stage of their serious illness, even when a person is diagnosed. In fact, some experts recommend that palliative care be integrated with the traditional treatments from the beginning.
There are a number of benefits to choosing palliative care, such as helping improve a person's quality of life, preventing depression, decreasing costs in the long term, and lengthening their survival. If you are interested in palliative care for yourself or a loved one, start with a conversation with a healthcare provider. You also can utilize national resources to find providers and talk to your insurance provider. Overall, palliative care is an effective way to improve a person's life, despite the challenges of their illness.
For more Health news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Health.
