When a loved one is diagnosed with a serious illness, making sense of the array of home care options can be challenging. Choosing the right care begins with understanding what each type of care offers. Here is some more information you should know about palliative care.

A Guide to Palliative Care

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is for people who have been diagnosed with a serious illness, such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, or dementia, and who are receiving treatment. The purpose of palliative care is to provide comfort and improve quality of life for the patients. It is a team effort, with doctors, nurses, chaplains, social workers, and others working together to support the patient in their day-to-day life. This might include helping the patient make sense of their treatment options, coordinating with doctors, dealing with anxiety and depression related to their illness, managing pain, or even helping with meal prep. 

Who Benefits from Palliative Home Care Services?

Although ensuring the patient’s comfort and serving as an advocate for his or her needs are the primary focus of palliative care, family members can also benefit from this type of care. Caring for an ill family member is stressful, and a palliative care team can arrange respite care to give family members a break. In addition, palliative care is patient-focused. It gives patients the support and tools they need to successfully manage all aspects of their lives after diagnosis and during treatment. 

How is Palliative Care Different from Hospice Care?

The primary difference between hospice and palliative care is that while hospice care is for patients who have either stopped treatment, or for whom treatment is no longer effective, palliative care is focused on helping patients during treatment. Hospice is also known as end-of-life care, and it focuses on keeping patients comfortable as they live out their final days. It’s typically for patients who have fewer than six months to live. Palliative care, on the other hand, aims to comfort patients and provide them with hope for the future. Home care, however, can be an element of both.

If a loved one has recently been diagnosed with a serious illness, and you need help managing their daily care, Visiting Angels in Toms River, NJ can help. Their team of compassionate caregivers can provide assistance with daily activities, respite care for family members, and other home care services. To learn more about their services, visit them online or call them at (732) 240-1050.