What Is Palliative Care? "Palliative care is an integrative medical caregiving approach that aims to improve the quality of life and reduce the suffering of people with serious complex and terminal illnesses. This holistic treatment approach, generally administered by organised healthcare service providers, considers the diverse range of challenges that accompany advanced illnesses," answers Dr Harish Jeyavel, Clinical Head at Sukino Healthcare Solutions. Accordingly, palliative care includes pain management, symptom control, psychological distress, and spiritual concerns. By integrating various medical disciplines, it endeavours to provide personalised support that honours the individual’s preferences, values, and goals.
Aspects of Palliative Care
Palliative care extends beyond the confines of medical treatment to encompass broader aspects of care, such as emotional support, counselling, and assistance with practical matters. The core principle is to deliver holistic care, addressing not only the medical needs but also the emotional and spiritual concerns of the individual. This holistic approach extends to various facets of care, including recuperative, rehabilitative, symptomatic, supportive, and monitored care.
Compassionate, dedicated caregiving is another important aspect of palliative care. Round-the-clock nursing and medical care, performed under the supervision of an interdisciplinary team of medical specialists, physiotherapists, clinical psychologists, and nutritionists, ensures that patients receive comprehensive support tailored to their unique needs.
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At the heart of palliative care is collaborative decision-making. Keeping patients and their families involved in decision-making empowers them to make informed choices regarding treatment options and care plans. This collaborative approach enables individuals to navigate their healthcare journey with confidence and dignity.
Goals of Palliative Care
"Ultimately, the goal is to enhance the quality of life for patients and families alike, ensuring comfort, dignity, and peace throughout the palliative care process," shares Dr Jeyavel. Palliative care aims to prioritise comfort, alleviate pain, manage symptoms, and reduce stress caused by illness, emphasising quality of life over prolonging suffering. By extending support to both patients and their loved ones, the aim is to provide comprehensive care that addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. The focus is on enhancing overall well-being, ensuring individuals can feel fulfilment in their lives during an illness.
Pain Management
Pain presents a significant challenge for individuals facing illness, stemming from both the physical manifestations of symptoms and the adverse effects of treatment. The psychological toll of illness can also exacerbate pain, leading to feelings of depression, anxiety, and anger. This intricate interplay between physical and psychological factors underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to pain management.
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Effective pain management begins with a thorough assessment conducted by a multidisciplinary team comprising doctors and clinical psychologists. By drawing on their expertise, tailored care programmes are developed that address both the physical and psychological aspects of pain, in line with the World Health Organisation’s Analgesic Ladder.
Dr Jeyavel shares, "In cases where pain persists despite conventional treatments, pain palliation specialists offer additional support and interventions. Through a collaborative and holistic approach, comprehensive pain management can be performed that addresses the needs and preferences of each patient."
Ancillary Health Issues
Patients grappling with serious illnesses often confront a myriad of physical challenges, ranging from breathlessness and respiratory issues to oral health concerns, anorexia, cachexia, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. Moreover, they contend with profound psychological distress, including feelings of depression, anxiety, and confusion.
To effectively address these multifaceted needs, a collaborative approach is essential. In palliative care, doctors, nurses, therapists, nutritionists, and caregivers work together seamlessly to provide holistic care within a facility. Caregivers offer compassionate support and assistance with daily activities, while nurses monitor vital signs and administer treatments. Therapists aid in physical rehabilitation and emotional well-being, while nutritionists ensure patients receive adequate nourishment tailored to their individual needs. Doctors oversee treatment plans and medication management, adjusting interventions as necessary to optimise comfort and quality of life.
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Continuum of Care
Accirding to Dr Jeyavel. "In palliative care, continuity of care is maintained with the involvement of all primary treating doctors to ensure seamless care. Accommodation may be offered for family members to stay and access services if necessary. Regular updates are provided to family members, with biweekly/SOS multidisciplinary meetings held either in person or via audio-visual mediums. Apps are also used by service providers to enhance communication and accessibility, empowering patients and families to virtually connect throughout the palliative care journey."
Bereavement
Bereavement, an inevitable aspect of the human experience, encompasses a complex array of emotions. Initially, shock and disbelief envelop individuals, leading to a strange sense of unreality. As they come to terms with reality, patients and their families navigate a tumultuous journey through grief, encountering a myriad of emotions that can prove profoundly challenging. Amid this emotional whirlwind, compassionate care becomes a source of comfort and support for everyone involved.
Continuum care plays a crucial role by extending compassionate support to patients and their families. By being present throughout the journey, continuum care providers ensure that individuals feel heard, understood, and supported during a vulnerable time. This empathetic care not only eases the burden of grief but also fosters a sense of reassurance and understanding, empowering individuals to navigate their grief with greater resilience and acceptance.
Wrapping Up
Palliative care embodies a comprehensive and empathetic approach to healthcare, addressing the diverse needs of individuals coping with serious illness. Through teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration, palliative care providers aim to improve quality of life, relieve distress, and empower patients and their families to navigate their healthcare journey with dignity and strength. By prioritising comfort, holistic well-being, and collaborative decision-making, palliative care exemplifies a commitment to compassionate and patient-centred care, ensuring that individuals receive the support and assistance necessary to live with fulfilment, despite the challenges of illness.