Palliative care is offered to patients with a chronic or terminal illness to keep them as comfortable as possible, whether or not they continue to pursue treatment. Many patients taking advantage of palliative care at home have diagnoses like cancer, COPD, Parkinson’s, ALS, Alzheimer’s, or other conditions that compromise physical and emotional comfort or make it challenging to remain at home without additional support.
Palliative care is a clinically-based healthcare service, typically offered through a particular medical facility, independent palliative care agency, or agencies that offer both hospice and palliative care – depending on a patient’s needs or wishes. In these cases, patients and families may choose to take advantage of clinically-centered palliative care while also contracting with a local home care agency to fill in the gaps.
The Clinical Palliative Care Team
The clinically-provided palliative care team includes a doctor, nurses, social workers, physical and occupational therapists, and other palliative care specialists. The team works with the existing physicians/specialists for a comprehensive network of support and care for the client and the family.
The goal of palliative care is to:
- Provide symptom and pain relief
- Continually educate, inform, and give feedback about disease progression and patient/family concerns
- Access to spiritual/emotional counseling as needed or desired
- Clarify treatment goals and options as things evolve and change
- Support and guide stop-treatment choices if that’s your wish
- Assist you and your family in making risks/benefits-based choices about ongoing treatment and care
- Ensure patients/clients benefit from the highest quality of life
We want to reemphasize that the palliative care team is separate from the in-home caregiver agency. However, they frequently work together to provide more comprehensive care that allows patients to remain in the comfort of their homes. If this option appeals to you, reach out to local licensed home care agencies to discuss how they can pair caregiving services with palliative care at home to enhance independence, dignity, and comfort.
Palliative Care at Home Paired With Private In-Home Caregivers
In addition to the home health support provided by clinicians and other healthcare providers, palliative care frequently utilizes services provided by home care agencies. These services take care of the physical and emotional well-being of the client as well as provide support with—or take over—the daily tasks necessary to remain safely and independently at home.
In-home caregiving services typically include things like:
Personal Care
If your loved one lives alone, companionship is built into every service we offer, especially in the personal care department. Our caregivers pay close attention to changes in well-being and report back to families and the medical palliative team.
Personal care also encompasses:
- Mobility and gait support
- Transfers in and out of chairs/beds
- Help with standing/walking
- Bathing/showering support
- Toileting and hygiene care
- Help with getting dressed and ready for the day
- Preparing for bed
- Support with other hygiene tasks such as teeth brushing, nail trimming, shaving, etc.
- Other personal care tasks that help clients feel clean, fresh, and as much “like themselves” as possible
Light Housekeeping
Our team of caregivers provides light housekeeping services so clients enjoy clean, organized, and accessible living spaces (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and living room). We’re also happy to do laundry and change linens.
Grocery Shopping & Errand Running
Most patients receiving palliative care at home don’t have the energy or the ability to do their grocery shopping or prepare delicious, nourishing meals. If family caregivers are involved, they don’t have the time to do those things either. Caregivers are here to take those jobs over.
We’ll run errands, pick up prescriptions, do the grocery shopping, and prepare delicious and nutritious meals in alignment with the client’s dietary restrictions and preferences.
FAQs About Palliative Care at Home
Scheduling a free, no-obligation home assessment with a licensed home care agency or speaking to your doctor is the best way to obtain information that’s personally oriented toward your loved one’s palliative care needs.
Here are some of the most common questions we receive about palliative care at home.
1. How long can patients receive palliative care?
Palliative care is a very flexible service and the terms are decided upon by the patient, relying on recommendations or guidance from their primary healthcare practitioners. It is available to most patients immediately after receiving a diagnosis, and services evolve and change with their needs.
It’s never too early or too late for qualifying patients to take advantage of palliative care services—including in-home care options—to conserve energy and caregiver bandwidth for healing and restoring.
2. Does insurance cover palliative care at home?
Yes, most private insurance carriers do cover all or portions of palliative care, and that includes Medicare and Medicaid benefits. However, certain services are only covered when ordered by a primary or palliative care physician and may be temporary or on a part-time basis.
For example, many of the home care services required for bed- or homebound patients may only be covered for a certain length of time, or under certain circumstances, while medical-related services are almost always covered. Your palliative care team and insurance representatives can help you determine which services are covered and which are not.
3. How do clients pay for services not covered by insurance?
There is a long list of creative ways to pay for in-home care and other services that keep a palliative care patient independently at home and in comfort. Again, scheduling in-home assessments or contacting home care agencies is the best resource for learning more about how to pay for home care as it applies to you and your needs.
4. Is palliative care the same as hospice?
No, palliative care and hospice care are not exactly the same. They are more like concentric circles because they share many of the same goals—patient comfort, holistic support for both patients and their families, and a team that oversees care options.
However, with palliative care, patients can pursue curative treatments. Patients in hospice have ceased treatment and have a prognosis of six months or less in most cases.
Receiving Palliative Care at Home Makes a Big Difference in Quality of Life
One of the greatest benefits of palliative care at home is that it improves quality of life. The 24/7 support provided by the team, as well as around-the-clock nurse hotlines, prevents unnecessary trips to the emergency room or panicked visits to urgent care.
Palliative care places patients and clients at the center, providing a level of autonomy, peace of mind, and comfort that is largely unavailable in nursing homes or other clinical settings.
Home Assessments: The First Step in Choosing the Right Palliative Care Team
Are you interested in learning more about whether or not it’s time to begin palliative care at home? You may choose to schedule a free assessment with Families Choice Home Care, or click on the link below to learn more about how to choose the right program for your loved one.
How to Choose the Right Palliative Care Program for Your Loved Ones
