Annually, about 20 million people need to enter a palliative care program. In the United States, almost one-quarter of households are caring for an aging family member.
While discussing and planning for this topic can be sensitive, it is crucial to have a plan in place.
Today we will take a look at what palliative care is, what the different options are, and how you can make sure that your loved one is well cared for and comfortable. Keep reading to find out more about palliative care programs and if one might be right for your family.
Hospice Versus Palliative Care
Many people are unaware of the similarities and differences between hospice and palliative care.
Similarities
Both care programs provide care to individuals with a serious disease or illness. They can provide a holistic approach to their care programs and focus on providing comforting care. Both can be inpatient or outpatient and typically have some sort of coverage from insurance available.
Differences
There are certainly differences between the two care programs as well. While both services strive to provide comfort, the reason for needing care is different for each care program.
Palliative care patients are still receiving treatment for their ailments, while hospice is for individuals that have been deemed terminal and are no longer receiving traditional treatment for their illnesses or disease. Palliative care programs can offer a team approach that can include several different professionals such as doctors, counselors, or dieticians.
Is Palliative Care Right for My Family?
Everyone deserves high-quality care, especially when dealing with a serious disease or illness.
If your loved one has cancer, Alzheimer’s, dementia, lung disease, ALS, or MS, then he or she could be the perfect candidate for a palliative care program. Patients can benefit from a palliative care program if certain tasks around the home or driving have become an issue, or if they are suffering from symptoms associated with their illness such as depression, nausea, anxiety, constipation, trouble sleeping, and more.
Palliative care can be started at any time or stage of an illness and is done cohesively with traditional treatments.
Choosing the Right Palliative Care Program
Palliative care can help improve your loved one’s quality of life by providing relief from the symptoms and worries that come along with serious illnesses. There are numerous options within care programs to be able to find the right fit for your family’s needs.
Respite Care
Respite care can provide short-term or intermittent care to provide relief to the primary caregiver. This option can change fluidly and be adjusted on an as-needed basis. Some families choose to utilize respite care a couple of hours a week, while others need a few hours a day.
Home Care
Palliative care programs can provide assistance in private homes for those who are not ready to move into a group setting but still need help to be able to stay home. Some of the services that might be provided are:
- light housekeeping like vacuuming, dusting or organizing
- personal care like medication reminders, bathing monitoring or help to move from a chair to a bed
- help with running errands for shopping or prescription pick up
- attending church or other religious services
- pet care
- fun activities like crafts, going out to movies, reading, playing games or doing puzzles
- overnight care
- help with cooking
- company for dining out
- handling mail and shipping
- changing linens
There is a large range of services that can be provided and tailored to each family’s needs.
Skilled Nursing Facility or Assisted Living Care
If an aging family member has to spend time in a skilled nursing facility or assisted living, it can feel hard to leave him or her alone. Palliative care programs can come into these facilities to ensure that your family member is receiving the one-on-one care that he or she deserves, as well as providing companionship during that time.
How to Find the Right Palliative Care Company
Now that you have a better idea of which palliative care services your family will benefit from, you need to choose a company that you can trust. Some questions to ask your potential palliative care company are:
- Are your caregivers insured and bonded?
- What is the average cost of care?
- Will insurance cover this cost?
- How do you pick your caregivers?
- What happens if I want to switch to a new caregiver?
- Do you screen your employees?
- Do employees have experience with Alzheimer’s or dementia?
- What services do you provide and can you help me choose what is right for us?
- Do you require a contract?
- How quickly can we start using a caregiver?
Be sure to read reviews and go with a company that will be willing to provide an in-home assessment to decide on a care plan.
Palliative Care Can Be A Blessing to Your Family
The weight and responsibility of being the sole caretaker for an aging loved one can be enormous. Studies have shown that between 20% to 60% of caregivers suffer from depression or show clinical signs of the disease.
You don’t have to go it alone. Palliative care programs provide the relief needed for caregivers to be able to handle his or her own needs while being able to rest assured that loved ones are in the best hands possible, loved and being cared for.
Reach out to us to discuss options and to have any of your questions answered, pressure and commitment-free.
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