The power of good care giving – Palliative care

The power of good caregiving – Palliative care
Specialized medical care towards the end of life so that death is dealt with comfort and dignity.

Unfortunately, in many people diseases and sickness is detected at an advanced stage where reversing the medical condition or treating the disease is beyond medical intervention.

Instead of leaving a patient to suffer in pain and emotional trauma, palliative care can provide immense relief and comfort to the patient through their deteriorating condition.

Palliative care is a life-changing experience for those who have lost hope, those suffering from discomfort, pain, and immobility, and those who are traumatized, emotionally shattered, and mentally disturbed.

There are 4 kinds of palliative care

  • Hospitals provide palliative care.
  • Care homes for palliative care.
  • Palliative daycare center.
  • Palliative care at home.

 It is understood and accepted by the family or near and dear ones that the patient is at the last stages of life and there is no cure for their condition. Different types of palliative care provide different services

Palliative care in a hospital

This is provided before discharge. It is a short period of care in the hospital. Usually, a team of caregivers and doctors are involved or a single nurse takes care.

Here a complete discharge report of the patient’s medical condition is provided with all other test reports. Assessments are made of the kind of future palliative care that is needed depending on patients’ choice of where they wish to undergo palliative care. At times hospitals also suggest where to undergo palliative care depending on the severity of the patient’s condition.

Care homes for palliative care

A home away from home, care homes create a conducive environment for patients to spend their last days. Treatment is provided to ease symptoms or medication advised by the hospital is administered on a timely basis. Critical medical care is not provided in these homes. In case of such a situation, the patient is rushed to a hospital.

Daily care like feeding, bathing and nursing wounds, etc. is done by caregivers so that the patient can be in comfort. 

Palliative daycare center.

This is not a 24x7 care home. Here patients can visit for rehabilitation, injections that need to be administered or dressing of wounds, nebulization etc.

Palliative care at home

Receiving all the care and medical supervision required in the comfort of your own home can be very soothing. It depends on the terms and conditions on which you have employed your caregiver. Here a male or female caregiver will live in your house full-time and monitor your medical condition while running your home too. In case of an emergency, the caregiver will ensure that the patient is transferred to the hospital and treatment begins. They also provide emotional support and call in a trained psychologist to help deal with serious depression or trauma.

Palliative care ensures a dignified life for those who can’t maintain their health and well-being. Those who are incapable of managing their own lives. In a fast-paced world where everyone has to work and dear and near ones are occupied palliative care can be a relief for both family and friends of the affected patient and the patient itself.