Understanding Palliative Care
By Sara Lancaster
For some, the term “palliative” is synonymous with death care. Yes and no. Palliative care “is an approach that improves the quality of life for patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness”, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). But, whereas common medical care will focus on curing a malady, palliative care’s emphasis is on reducing the severity of one’s symptoms.
And it’s not just about coping with the physical aspects of illness, such as pain and other discomforts. Palliative care providers work with patients to deal with the mental and spiritual obstacles that present themselves when someone is dealing with a life-threatening illness. Palliative care can take place in a hospital, a special palliative care facility, or in someone’s home.
What Patients Receive with Palliative Care
Palliative care does not provide a prognosis or cure for an illness. Practitioners do not work to extend the length of life either. Instead, they work to improve the quality of overall life for the patient. A patient in palliative care will receive:
• Pain medications
• Counseling for coping with the end of life or how to live with an illness
• Help through difficult treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Advice for family members on helping the patient cope with the illness and guidance for dealing with their own emotions
• Assistance with every day activities such as bathing, traveling, eating, etc.
• Spiritual guidance
Confusing Hospice Care with Palliative Care
Hospice care and palliative care are sometimes confused with one another. Non-hospice palliative care is administered to people who are not facing an imminent death. Hospice care, however, is designed specifically for people who are going to die from their illness. And in that case, hospice care is synonymous with palliative care.
Paying for Palliative Care
In the United States, palliative care is not regulated by the government or covered under Medicare. Organizations offering palliative care tend to be non-profits and usually offer treatment based on need, not on ability to pay. However, a growing number of insurance companies are now covering palliative care.
How to Find a Reputable Palliative Care Provider
To learn more about palliative care or finding an organization that offers palliative care, visit the Web site for the Center to Advance Palliative Care (www.capc.org).
