Here’s How Palliative Care Can Help Aspen Hill Seniors

Palliative care aims to alleviate discomfort and provide comprehensive care and support for older adults in Silver Spring, Laurel and Aspen Hill, MD

Few people really know very much about palliative services before a loved one of theirs becomes in need of this specialized line of services. However, if your loved one has received a terminal illness or been diagnosed with an illness that requires specialized care, you may have started wondering whether they would benefit from comprehensive comfort care services. You have come to the right place.

Before we start, let’s talk about what this kind of care actually is. According to the World Health Organization, palliative care is “an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.”

Although this kind of care is most often received by seniors, the fact is that anyone, regardless of age, can start using these services whether or not their illness is terminal. Many younger individuals do receive palliative services and live full lives.

How Palliative Care from Visiting Angels Aspen Hill Can Supplement Your Loved One’s Medical Care

All individuals who receive palliative services have a team headed by a palliative doctor. This team will include a wide range of individuals including a primary care doctor, a range of specialists depending on their illness, nurses, social workers, spiritual leaders, volunteers, family members, friends, members of the community, and increasingly professional non-medical home care providers. At Visiting Angels Aspen Hill, we provide services designed to supplement your loved one’s medical palliative care. With our services, your loved one will receive a completely holistic approach to their illness aimed at making them more comfortable and ensuring that they are living in a dignified environment. This is something all of us deserve regardless of illness.

“But, how can non-medical services really make that much of a difference to my loved one when they already have a palliative team?” is something you may be asking yourself. Well, at Visiting Angels, the services we provide are supplementary, meaning we pick up where medical professionals leave off in ensuring your loved one is living comfortably. This means we provide personal care and companionship services designed to ensure that your loved one is getting assistance with absolutely everything they need throughout the day. This helps make sure that their independence is maintained without their safety suffering for it.

To find out more about how we can help, call our Silver Spring, MD office today.