Are you suffering from a serious illness and in search of extra support? This care can help.
We often think of doctors as professionals whose job it is to find a cure for our sickness. Helping us cope along the way before we reach our goal isn’t necessarily part of the deal.
That’s where palliative care comes in. You may have heard the term associated with therapies and medical care given to patients who are suffering from a serious illness and who are near the end of life.
Palliative care does cover this period, but it can also be recommended to a patient at any time.
Generally speaking, palliative care is help and support that’s provided to patients who are suffering from a serious illness and have some extra needs, as a result. It’s not the same as hospice care, which is provided for patients only in their final days.
People who have been diagnosed with illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other serious affliction can all qualify for this care.
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Maybe you’re experiencing nausea due to your treatment, or perhaps you’re having extra trouble sleeping and feeling relaxed due to your medical condition. Palliative care specialists will listen to you and help you with these side effect. Palliative care specialists can suggest therapies and medications to treat your symptoms, beyond offering a cure for your disease.
In short, this care seeks to make you as comfortable as possible and to coordinate your care while other experts try to cure you. Massage therapists, doctors, nurses, psychologists and occupational therapists are some examples of who might constitute your palliative care team.
Do you feel you qualify for palliative care? Talk to your doctor about your options, and get the help you need.
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