Being diagnosed with a life-altering illness can be an overwhelming situation for you and your family members. Not knowing how to cope with your diagnosis or getting the correct type of help for your illness can feel like a very tall mountain to climb! With palliative care support, you and your family can overcome that obstacle and find the right type of care environment for you as you go through treatments.
In fact, the earlier that palliative care is introduced into your life, you can see a reduction in the need for hospital care. Read below to learn more about palliative care and how it can benefit older adults going through serious illnesses.
Palliative care is a specialized form of health care that offers support for you and your family members as you’re going through a life-altering illness.
People who are accessing treatments for the following diseases might benefit from palliative care:
Your team of palliative care providers will work on the improvement of the quality of life for you and your family members.
They will focus on:
Your team of palliative care doctors, nurses, nutritionists, and social workers will help you understand your treatment options and will work with your other doctors to create a cohesive treatment plan. Oftentimes, the team of palliative care differs depending on your needs. Usually, your doctor or health care provider will recommend a palliative care specialist. You can also ask them for a referral if one is not provided right away. Most insurances cover palliative care as it is a medical specialty that is proven to lower costs for patients and improve overall health during treatment.
People often confuse palliative care with hospice care, but no matter the stage of your illness, palliative care is helpful for you.
Major benefits include:
No matter the hurdles that you are facing with a chronic or life changing illness, knowing that you have a team of supportive doctors, nurses and other specialists will help you feel safe and taken care of during a time of high stress. Palliative care is the option for you and your family members to approach an overwhelming situation with knowledge and confidence in the care being provided.