If someone you love has been diagnosed with a life-limiting condition or terminal illness, you may have been told about palliative care services by a medical professional. Many don’t know much about palliative care and this is one type of care that you hope you’re never going to need. However, if your family member’s condition has become progressive or advanced, you will be very grateful for palliative care services.
Whilst palliative care is commonly associated with hospices and nursing homes, you can also get palliative care at home nowadays. A specialist team can visit your loved one to provide them with the palliative care services they need and in-home care is becoming increasingly popular. Below we have looked into palliative care at home in more detail.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is a care service that is specifically designed to support people who are living with a condition or illness that can’t be cured. People can receive palliative care at home whilst they’re undergoing treatment for an illness, but it’s most commonly arranged when they’re in the last few days, weeks or months of their lives.
You will sometimes hear palliative care referred to as ‘end of life care’ and it can help to make people as comfortable as possible when there are no other treatments available to try. A palliative care team will provide practical and emotional support, and help people to manage their pain and symptoms. They will work closely with healthcare professionals, such as GPs and district nurses, to ensure people have everything they need at the end of their life.
The benefits of palliative care at home
Rather than moving your loved one into a specialist facility to receive the care and support they need whilst suffering from a life-limiting condition or terminal illness, it can be really advantageous to keep them at home. With the help of an experienced home care agency, you can ensure they’re receiving the care they need without having to move somewhere new. Some of the biggest benefits of palliative care at home include;
Stay in the familiarity of their own home
It isn’t uncommon for people who require palliative care to be admitted to the hospital when their condition deteriorates, yet the vast majority would much prefer to stay at home. Arranging palliative care at home will enable your family member to remain within the comfort of their own home, surrounded by their belongings, which can help them to relax. Being able to spend their last few days at home will enable family and friends to see them without having to worry about set visiting hours too, so they can spend as much time as possible with those who love them.
Ensure their wishes are being considered
When your family member wants to pass away at home, you should do all you can to make this happen for them. End of life care at home will be tailored specifically to your loved one’s needs and their wishes will always be taken into consideration. An experienced team of healthcare professionals will design a care plan that meets all of their medical requirements and also helps them to live their final days the way they want to. This care plan can be adapted over time as their condition deteriorates and home care is incredibly flexible.
Receive a one-to-one care service
At this difficult time in their life, your family member will likely require a lot of support and palliative care at home will be more comprehensive than the care they’d received elsewhere. Your loved one will have a dedicated team assisting them and their palliative carers won’t have to look after lots of other people at the same time. During every visit, a healthcare assistant will give 100% of their time and attention to your loved one, ensuring they receive adequate support and they’re kept as comfortable as possible at all times.
Arranging end of life care services
It’s worth looking into palliative care at home in more detail if your family member’s condition has become progressive or advanced and when your loved one wants to stay in their own home, our team at Beloved Homecare will be happy to help them. We offer end of life care services to clients in Trafford and the surrounding areas, and we can provide your loved one with the support they need in their final months, weeks and days.
Our experienced palliative care team will go above and beyond to ensure your loved one is fully supported and cared for, and you can have complete peace of mind knowing we have the capabilities required to provide this specialist type of care. Don’t hesitate to contact us to speak to a member of our team about end of life care services in more detail.