Introduction

Dealing with a serious illness can be overwhelming, both for patients and their loved ones. Palliative care offers a beacon of hope and support, focusing not just on the illness itself but the quality of life of those affected. By addressing physical symptoms as well as emotional and spiritual needs, palliative care provides a holistic approach to patient care.

If you are dealing with emotional or physical symptoms related to serious chronic illness then considering Palliative Care may be worth your time.

If accepting Palliative Care does that mean I am going to die? No, this service can be started as soon as a diagnosis of a serious chronic illness is made. It can also be added later on.

This type of care can be put into your Advance Directives if this is a service that you would consider down the road. 

Defining Palliative Care

Palliative care is a specialized medical approach aimed at improving the quality of life for patients dealing with serious illnesses. Unlike hospice care, which is for those nearing the end of life, palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments. It’s about easing discomfort and stress at any stage of illness.

Palliative Care can be paid by Medicare, Medicaid, Private Insurance or the VA. For Medicare it is treated as an outpatient doctor visit and usually will have a copay involved. If you have a copay to see your regular primary physician you will most likely have a copay to see your Palliative Care provider.

Palliative Care is meant to enhance the care you are already receiving from your primary care provider. The Palliative Care team works closely with your doctor to provide you the best care.

The Role of Palliative Care in Symptom Management

Dr. Mary Smith, a Palliative Care Specialist, University of Chicago, notes, “Palliative care is about improving the quality of life for patients facing serious illnesses, and effective symptom management is at its core.” By managing symptoms effectively, patients and their caregivers can experience a significant improvement in daily life, allowing more engagement in activities that matter most.

We will share our video from our Senior Care Summit 2024 with a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner explaining what Palliative Care is and also how it is paid for.

Common Symptoms Addressed in Palliative Care

In palliative care, prevalent symptoms like pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, and nausea are meticulously managed. Each symptom is addressed with tailored strategies to ensure patients remain comfortable and can participate in life as fully as possible.

• Pain: Management includes medications like analgesics and non-pharmacological therapies such as massage or acupuncture.
• Fatigue: Strategies include energy-conservation techniques and nutritional support.
• Shortness of Breath: Breathing exercises, oxygen therapy, and medications may be used. Such as with illnesses such as Congestive Heart Failure, COPD, cancer, Parkinson’s Disease and others.
• Nausea: Treated with dietary adjustments, medications, and sometimes relaxation techniques. Illnesses such as Cancer and other GI chronic illnesses can have these symptoms.
• Swelling: This can be caused by congestive heart failure, and other cardiac diseases or Lymphedema
• Dementia: Those suffering from forms of dementia such as Alzheimer’s Disease can benefit from Palliative Care.

Strategies and Treatments for Symptom Relief

Palliative care uses a combination of medications, therapies, and lifestyle adjustments to manage symptoms. Reach out to your primary care provider if you think Palliative Care may be an option for you or a loved one.  

• Medications for pain relief, anti-nausea, and anxiety
• Complementary therapies like art and music therapy. Often Palliative Care also provided a more “holistic” approach to symptom management. 
• Lifestyle adjustments including diet modifications and exercise routines
• Palliative Care Team: Often your team will include social workers, dieticians, and even chaplains can be a part of the Palliative Care Team. 

The Caregiver’s Crucial Role

Caregivers are pivotal in implementing palliative care plans at home.  Providing medication, monitoring symptoms, and offering emotional support are just a few of the ways caregivers contribute.

Palliative Care differs in how they manage care.  Some Palliative Care providers treat patients in their office just like a regular doctor appointment. Other Palliative Care providers will see their patients in their home. Services vary so as a caregiver it is important to find the Palliative Care provider that is a good fit. 

Emotional and Spiritual Support

Beyond physical health, palliative care also addresses emotional and spiritual well-being. 

Real-life Stories

Let’s look at Uncle Harvey’s story.  He was my husband’s uncle, the brother to his dad. He lived alone, a modern day cowboy in every sense of the stereotype we all imagine. Harvey lived his life drifting from place to place and working with horses and ranching as much as possible. 

His loner ways and looking out for himself always, caused him to burn several bridges along his life’s journey. As Harvey aged and became ill, he didn’t have many friends or relatives that would assist him with his increasing need for care.

I suggested Hospice care for him. This would get many services in place for him, equipment, a hospital bed, and all the things he needed he couldn’t afford. Hospice accepted him based on his diagnosis. With the close management of symptoms with Hospice, Harvey actually improved over the next 2 months. Since he was improving, hospice had to discharge him. For ongoing hospice care you have to show continued decline in condition. 

With the hospice services stopped, we needed to find some ongoing support. The Palliative Care team came out and assessed Uncle Harvey and accepted him for care. This was a great option for extra eyes and care for him as we knew the time would come when he would decline again. Palliative Care can be a good middle ground before hospice is utilized.

Uncle Harvey continued with Palliative Care until he began to decline again while receiving symptom management care. The Palliative Care team knew just the right time when to transition him back to hospice. For Uncle Harvey, he never had an interruption in the extra care he needed to be as comfortable as possible.

Learn More about Palliative Care 

Conclusion

Palliative care plays a vital role in alleviating the burden of serious illnesses. Palliative Care focuses on symptom management. It includes emotional support, and the overall well-being of patients and caregivers. Palliative Care offers an invaluable service to those in need.

Call to Action

If you or a loved one is navigating a serious illness, consider incorporating palliative care into your treatment plan. Contact us today to discuss how our services can support your specific needs.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and spend a few minutes of your precious time with us. We strive to continue to bring you healthcare education that will assist you in navigating the healthcare system. 

We will see you back here on the blog soon.

Take care,

Pam and Linda

Your Nurse Advocates

“Compassionate Care for Aging Parents, Peace of Mind for Adult Children.”

Additional Resources

For more information on palliative care and symptom management, explore these valuable resources:

• Free Resources-Your Nurse Advocate Consulting
• https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hospice-and-palliative-care/what-are-palliative-care-and-hospice-care 
• Recommended reading: “The Best Care Possible” by Dr. Ira Byock
• Hospice Palliative Care checklist.
• https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/hospice-and-palliative-care/frequently-asked-questions-about-palliative-care 
• https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/palliative-and-hospice-care-across-lifespan-expert-q 
• https://www.nhpco.org/find-a-care-provider/ 

We encourage you to share this post with others who may benefit from the insights and support offered by palliative care.