Who Can Benefit from Palliative Care?

As time goes by, the world’s population is only becoming older and sicker. However, according to an article written in 2017, many people living with life-threatening illnesses did not receive the palliative care they needed. There may be a multitude of reasons as to why patients do not receive access to much-needed palliative care services. 

However, in order to bring awareness to palliative care, let’s take a look at who can benefit from it.

Who Can Benefit from Palliative Care?

Palliative care is available to anyone with serious illnesses regardless of their prognosis, age, disease stage, or choice of treatment. It usually begins very early into the illness and continues throughout the illness alongside life-prolonging or curative treatments. This way, patients don’t have to choose between palliative care for their illness and treatment.

Palliative care not only helps to improve a patient’s quality of life, but it also helps their family by reducing the physical, mental, and emotional distress and discomfort.

How to Make the Most of Palliative Care Services

If you find that yourself or your loved one is dealing with a serious illness, it is essential to ensure that you speak to your primary or specialty care doctor for a referral. If you realize that you can’t find services locally, your doctor should be able to explore your home hospice care needs with you directly to point you in the right direction. 
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In order to make the right decision for your loved one, read the tips below:

• Ensure that you discuss and document your or your loved one’s health care and end-of-life preferences. This includes medical interventions that you may or may not want.

• Become aware of and learn to manage any poorly controlled social, physical, spiritual, and psychological stressors.

• Explore every single one of your worries, values, hopes, and goals that may impact your or your loved one’s treatment.

It is important to know that it is never too early to learn about the palliative care services available to you and your loved one. Contact La Bella Vita Hospice today to learn more.