Is Palliative Care Right For You?
At Visiting Angels, we’re dedicated to the comfort and safety of seniors in our community. We offer a wide selection of at-home care services, including palliative care for individuals living with a chronic condition that makes it challenging for them to care for themselves.
According to the World Health Organization, only 14 percent of people who need palliative care receive it. Part of that statistic is because many people are unaware of the benefits of palliative care, if they qualify for it, and where to get it.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care for seniors works to improve the client’s quality of life. In most cases, seniors request palliative care when they have a chronic condition that causes physical or mental distress. The role of the caregiver is to help alleviate any discomfort while also providing mental, emotional, and spiritual support.
Are Palliative Care and Hospice Care The Same?
Palliative care and hospice care are not the same. When someone requests hospice care, that means the individual is no longer seeking treatment or working with a doctor to treat the underlying cause of their condition. Hospice care aims to provide physical and mental support, similar to palliative care. Often, in hospice care, there’s a life expectancy involved, the last stage before the end of life.
Professional caregivers typically provide the same role in both palliative and hospice care. However, the biggest difference with palliative care is that clients can continue to seek treatment from a medical team to treat the underlying condition. There’s also no life expectancy placed on the client.
Signs You May Need Palliative Care
A client can request palliative care at any time. Unlike hospice care, there are no requirements for hiring a caregiver for palliative care. However, if you are experiencing any of the following signs, it may be time to consider palliative care sooner rather than later.
- You’re experiencing chronic pain or discomfort.
- You have difficulty caring for yourself and require assistance with grooming or bathing.
- You have trouble with household tasks like housekeeping or cooking.
- You’ve fallen within the last six months.
- You have a chronic condition that makes it challenging to care for yourself.
- You need mobility assistance.
- You’re on bed rest.
Starting Palliative Care with Visiting Angels
If a senior in your life living with a chronic condition could benefit from palliative care, please reach out to us at Visiting Angels Jasper. We offer all potential clients a complimentary consultation where you’ll meet with a Visiting Angels care coordinator to understand how palliative care can fit into your loved one’s life. This consultation is also a great time to ask questions or express concerns.
After the initial meeting, we’ll create a personalized care plan outlining the caregiver’s role in your loved one’s care. We then match a caregiver to your case, working to find someone who fits your loved one’s schedule and will have a personality that will lend itself to the best client-caregiver relationship. Once we have a care plan and caregiver, care services can begin within 48 hours.
It’s never too soon or too late to start palliative care. Message us today to schedule your complimentary consultation.