Palliative and end-of-life care are designed to assist you in the event that you are suffering from a life-limiting illness or a terminal condition. This type of care focuses on managing symptoms and providing comfort and support. This includes support for emotional, mental, and spiritual needs. Palliative and end-of-life care also provide support for daily tasks. Your quality of life, and the lives of your family, friends, and caregivers, are what matters most. End-of-life and palliative treatment will be recommended if you have a terminal illness.
Who are end-of-life and palliative care?
Any person with a life-limiting illness or death is eligible to receive end-of-life and palliative services from the Ayushya healthcare. You can get palliative and end-of-life care for chronic life-limiting diseases such as:
- Cancer
- Lung and heart diseases
- Multiple sclerosis and motor neuron diseases
- Alzheimer’s disease, dementia
- Renal disease
- Stroke and other neurological conditions
- Other life-limiting diseases
End-of-life and palliative services are not only for those nearing the end. You can get end-of-life and palliative care regardless of your culture, religion, or age.
Palliative and end-of-life care are not only for cancer patients. You can access it regardless of your illness if you require treatment for symptoms like pain or breathlessness. If you have difficulty dealing with your condition, end-of-life, and palliative services are also available. This is sometimes called supportive healthcare.
Your end-of-life care may be provided by one or more family members or carers. Friends and family members who provide care can also access support for end-of-life and palliative care.
Who provides end-of-life and palliative care services?
A wide variety of providers can provide end-of-life care. End-of-life care can be provided by many people working in the health, community, or human services sectors.
- Your local community health center staff
- Staff at your GP Clinic
- Your local rural clinic staff
- Local government agencies
- Providers of religious and cultural services
- Residential care facilities
- Services for the disabled
- Hospitals
- Medical specialists.
End-of-life care may include listening to you and discussing the possibility of your death, being compassionate to your needs and concerns, and referring you to more specialist support or care, if necessary.
You may have a variety of services and people involved in your care. As your condition changes, your needs may change and the people who take care of you may change.
Specialist palliative staff are specially trained to provide palliative services for you, your family, and your caregivers. Palliative staff is skilled in the management of symptoms, as well as spiritual, cultural, and practical care. Specialist doctors, nurses, allied healthcare professionals, and spiritual care workers are all part of the palliative care staff.
These staff may provide palliative care at these end-of-life care facilities. They are also known as visiting specialists. These specialists can also provide palliative care at:
- Community palliative care
- Inpatient palliative Care Units (hospices)
- Hospitals
- Outpatient clinics
- Day hospices
The palliative care team also provides support and advice to those who are providing end-of-life care. Specialist palliative staff can provide direct care if your condition becomes more complex.
What palliative and end-of-life care can do for you
Palliative and end-of-life care are about improving your quality of life. It helps you manage symptoms, and provides you with emotional, spiritual, and practical support when you need it. (source).
A few people might be very sick and require palliative care. Others may require palliative and end-of-life care over a time period of several months or years.
To ensure you have the best quality of your life, palliative and end-of-life care should be started as soon as possible.
Palliative care can be provided in your own home, in a specialist palliative unit, or at a local hospital. These services are described under Palliative Care at Home and Palliative Care in a Hospital or Community Residential Home.
Palliative and end-of-life care provide support for family members, caregivers, and other loved ones after death.
Palliative and other treatments
Palliative care does not replace active treatment. Palliative care can be received alongside other treatments for specific conditions. You can, for example, receive palliative treatment while you are undergoing cancer treatment. While you don’t have to stop treatment for certain conditions, you can choose to receive palliative care if you so desire.
Palliative care that is person-centered
“Person-centred care” means:
- You are the center of planning and decision-making around your end-of-life and palliative care.
- When planning care, you should consider your religious, cultural, and individual needs.
- You are treated the way that you would like to be treated.
- Your preferences and values will be respected and acknowledged.
- No matter your age, culture, religion, or sexual orientation, you will be treated with dignity and respect.
Your palliative care team will help you make the most out of every day by listening to your needs as well as those of your family.
Plan ahead for end-of-life and palliative care
If you’re entering the final year of your life, end-of-life and palliative staff can help you choose what care you need.
It is crucial to identify this time as you might experience rapid changes or fluctuations in your health during this time. This time may also be a time when you might come in contact with many communities or health services.
Care planning is best when there is a focus for at least one year. Talk with your family members and your doctor about your care preferences and priorities. Our goal is to fulfill your needs according to what you have desired in the past year, months, and weeks.
You can find more information about Palliative care offered by Ayushya Healthcare under service menu tab.
Palliative care costs
Although palliative care is usually free, you might need to pay for some equipment, medication, dressings, and other treatments.
Accessing palliative care at a private hospital will incur additional fees. Always check with your insurance company for more information about your options, and possible costs.
Referring to palliative care
You can either contact palliative services directly, your doctor, nurse, local health provider, your carer, or a relative.
What can I do to find out more about the end-of-life care services available in my locality?
You may be nearing the end of your life or caring for someone close to you. If you’re interested in the best care and support, you should first speak with your doctor or call the number provided by your healthcare professionals.
They will help you find local services. Ask about any kind of assistance – they may have information about night-time services. Additionally, you can browse nearby palliative care providers.
What is the best time to start end-of-life care?
End-of-life care should be started when you are ready and can last for a few days, months, or even a whole year.
life care can be beneficial for people in many different situations. Many of them will die in the next few days or hours. Others may receive end-of-life care for many months.
When people are expected to die in the next 12 months, they are said to be nearing the end of their lives. However, this is difficult to predict. This applies to people who are likely to die soon and people who have already died.
- Having an incurable advanced illness such as dementia, cancer, or motor neuron diseases
- They are usually frail and may have co-existing conditions which could lead to them dying within the next 12 months.
- If they are at high risk of death from sudden crises, have current conditions
- A life-threatening, acute condition that is caused by an unexpected catastrophic event such as an accident/stroke
Ayuhsya Healthcare has published guidance on caring for dying adults in their last days of life. This guidance covers Recognizing When Someone is in their Final Days of Life and questions to ask about care in the last days of life.