You have an illness that is not going away. And every day it seems to get a little worse. Maybe you have unrelenting pain. Or reduced strength and ability. Maybe just getting around the house requires too much energy. You feel alone, tired and scared. What kind of care will help you live your best life while acknowledging the debilitating effects of your disease?
The answer is Palliative Care. This sub specialty of medicine provides compassionate medical care, helping to manage symptoms and drug side effects while working with you and your family to achieve a quality of life that addresses body, mind and spirit. Contrary to common belief, palliative care is not only for those who are terminally ill and in hospice; it’s widely available to patients suffering from debilitating symptoms of serious illness and those who are aggressively managing the disease.
According to the Center for Advanced Palliative Care, “Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) focuses on relief of the pain, stress and other debilitating symptoms of serious illness.” The palliative care team may consist of physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists and hospital chaplains. Anyone helping to advocate for your well-being should consider palliative care an essential component of your treatment plan.
Palliative Care —
- Can be provided along with treatment focused on curing the disease or illness.
- Is appropriate at any time during an illness and does not depend upon a prognosis.
- May help control treatment side-effects
- Focuses on control of pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping.
- Is individualized to the needs of each patient and their families and changes with the patient’s needs.
- Provided by a team of doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other professionals to provide comfort and support for both the patient and family.
No matter where you are along the journey toward managing a serious illness, palliative care can help you achieve your goals for a fuller quality of life. For more information, visit www.getpalliativecare.org