What’s the Difference Between Palliative Care and End of Life Care from Visiting Angels Annapolis?
Here’s the difference between palliative care and end of life care and how they provide comfort and support for seniors in Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Arnold, Millersville, Pasadena, Crownsville, Severna Park and surrounding areas in Maryland
Although palliative care and end of life care share common characteristics, these treatment options have different benefits and goals. Visiting Angels Annapolis can help care for your loved one whether they need comfort during recovery or if they’re nearing life’s end.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care can help treat the symptoms of a serious illness or injury regardless of life stage or expected outcome. It focuses on providing physical comfort and maximizing the quality of life for individuals. Typically, a team of nurses, doctors, healthcare professionals and caregivers work together. It can be provided in many different settings, including the home, assisted living facility, nursing home or hospital by caregivers from Visiting Angels Annapolis.
Palliative services can be offered with aggressive medical procedures. For example, a cancer patient who is receiving chemotherapy may benefit from palliative care to treat side effects like nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Doctors may recommend palliative care for those recovering from surgery, an accident or a serious illness—whenever serious pain or discomfort is involved. When a doctor recommends palliative care, it does not necessarily mean a disease or condition is terminal.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by caring for your loved one, Visiting Angels Annapolis by providing the care your loved one needs when they need it most.
What is End of Life Care?
End of life care involves medical care and emotional support as an individual approaches their last days of living. It begins when attempts to delay a disease or mitigate an injury have been exhausted, and a doctor diagnoses the condition as terminal.
End of life care may last for hours, weeks or months. Typically, it is handled by a team that includes doctors, nurses, mental health professionals, social workers, financial and legal advisors and religious clergy. Visiting Angels Annapolis also provides end of life care through providing comfort and emotional support for seniors and families.
Our caregivers can help provide support, including:
- Physical comfort: As part of the end of life process, our caregivers provide pain management care to ease physical discomfort.
- Emotional support: Our caregivers can help a senior and family work through emotional distress, ensuring a calming and soothing environment.
- Household tasks: Managing essential home care responsibilities, such as light housekeeping and running errands, is part of our care team’s duties to lighten the burden on the family.
- Support for families: In addition to providing comfort for seniors, our caregivers also assist families with everyday tasks and provide emotional support during such a difficult time.
Respect Your Loved One’s Wishes
Care plans can vary drastically. Some patients ask for many services, while others may request only pain management to ease symptoms. Start a conversation with your loved one before their condition worsens and prepare an end of life care plan so that everyone understands their final wishes. Compose a living will or an “advance directive,” a document stating one’s medical wishes if they are no longer able to provide consent.
If you’d like to learn more about end of life care and palliative care from Visiting Angels Annapolis, call our Millersville, MD office at 410-505-5141.