VISITING ANGELS JENKINTOWN, PA 215-938-7201
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What You Should Know About Palliative Care

Learn more about palliative care can provide compassionate and comprehensive comfort care for elderly adults in Jenkintown, PA

If you have not heard the term palliative care before or are not sure what this type of care entails, you are not alone.

A recognized medical specialty, palliative care is used to relieve the symptoms and stress that come with serious medical conditions through an approach that focuses on the whole person, not just their illness.

Not to be confused with hospice care, palliative care is actually comfort care, provided for anyone, at any age, at any stage of an illness, regardless of life expectancy.

Palliative care providers treat and support patients and their families throughout the whole medical treatment process, but palliative doctors do not replace medical specialists – instead, they provide additional help. A team led by a palliative doctor often includes primary doctors, nurses, specialists, social workers, family members, and friends as well.

Patient Wishes and Comfort Are Paramount to Care

Like with any type of care, the wishes of the patient come first with palliative care too. While the medical professionals treat the illness, the palliative team works to improve their quality of life and help them cope with the challenges of the condition through compassionate comfort care that includes:

  • Guiding the patient throughout the decision-making process regarding medical treatment
  • Prescribing medications and treatment that boost comfort and reduce pain
  • Coordinating care with medical professionals
  • Helping the patient draft a living will and other documents in accordance with their wishes
  • Providing compassion, comfort, and emotional and spiritual support

Palliative Care & Survival Odds

Palliative care may increase survival odds by relieving symptoms while medical treatments are used to treat the illness, reports the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. The same organization states that people live longer when they receive comfort care along with medical treatments for their illness. According to the World Health Organization, palliative care can significantly reduce unneeded hospitalizations and use of health care services.

Professional Comfort Care from Visiting Angels

At Visiting Angels Jenkintown, we offer plans that complement palliative care by increasing life quality for the patient through non-medical in-home care, assistance and support. Basically, your loved one will not only receive medical care from their medical professionals, but the additional help of one of our palliative caregivers to ensure they are comfortable on a day-to-day basis.

In order for our care coordinators to develop a personalized plan in accordance with your loved one’s needs, they need to get to know your parent or relative. Palliative experts may ask your loved one the following questions (the plans are adjustable, so they will change as your loved one’s illness changes):

  • What makes you happy?
  • What are your hopes for the future?
  • How can we help you live well?
  • What do you find important?
  • What needs and/or services do you wish to talk about?
  • Is there something you are looking forward to?
  • What keeps you going in difficult times?
  • Do you have any concerns regarding your illness or medical care
  • What activities do you wish to continue doing?
  • How can we improve your quality of life and help you live more comfortably?

To learn more about quality home care services for seniors in Jenkintown, Abington, Ambler, Huntingdon Valley, Lafayette Hill, Horsham, Lower Gwynedd, and throughout Eastern Montgomery County, PA, call Visiting Angels Jenkintown today at (215) 938-7201.

Serving Jenkintown, Abington, Huntingdon Valley, Glenside, Chestnut Hill, Flourtown and the Surrounding Areas

Visiting Angels JENKINTOWN, PA
1250 Greenwood Ave #1A
Jenkintown, PA 19046
Phone: 215-938-7201
215-938-7202
Fax: 215-887-7204

Serving Jenkintown, Abington, Huntingdon Valley, Glenside, Chestnut Hill, Flourtown and the Surrounding Areas

Visiting Angels JENKINTOWN, PA
1250 Greenwood Ave #1A
Jenkintown, PA 19046
Phone: 215-938-7201
215-938-7202
Fax: 215-887-7204