When you or a loved one is in pain, it can be difficult to find a clear path forward and find the right care. At BrightStar Care, our team is here to help. Palliative care focuses on minimizing pain and enhancing the quality of life. We take an approach to palliative care that addresses the physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of a person’s wellness. Because of its holistic nature, palliative care is designed to improve a person’s quality of life, as well as preserve their dignity during a difficult period.
The Benefits of Palliative Care for Seniors
Finding care for a senior loved one is overwhelming. You have multiple options to choose from, each with its pros and cons. Despite the difficulty, deciding between approaches to care is critical. For many families, palliative care is the answer. This form of care is a common way to ensure seniors receive the best possible quality of life in their later years. Palliative care comes with numerous benefits, from physical health to emotional well-being. Let the experts at BrightStar Care fill you in about this popular approach to care.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is specialized medical care focusing on relieving pain and minimizing the symptoms of an illness. While individuals may request curative treatment, the main objective of palliative care is improving quality of life and addressing emotional needs. Contrary to popular belief, palliative care isn’t just for individuals dealing with a terminal diagnosis. Actually, palliative care can improve the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses or those who have had a life-changing injury, helping them stay comfortable and manage their condition with assistance.
When Should Someone Be Offered Palliative Care?
Palliative care can be offered at any stage of illness or injury and is best provided soon after a person is diagnosed. There isn't one set time for when someone should be offered palliative care, as it depends greatly on the individual's unique needs. Ideally, the conversation about palliative care begins at the time of diagnosis, but every circumstance is different. If you have questions about starting this type of care, don't hesitate to reach out to your loved one's healthcare team.
5 Stages of Palliative Care
When palliative care is an option, knowing what to expect can help you, your loved one and your family make the best choice possible. The five stages of palliative care outline a process that families, ailing loved ones and caregivers can travel together as their condition progresses. These stages range from creating an initial plan for both early and late-stage compassionate care, all the way to providing support for a grieving family. Although there aren’t five “official” stages of palliative care, these are among the most common phases people and their families experience.
Each family’s journey through these stages is different. The amount of time each family spends in one stage or another is also unique. Additionally, each individual might not experience all five of these stages. Depending on the progression of an illness, some steps may be skipped or repeated. It’s important to remember that palliative care is not always a linear process, but your care team will be there with you every step of the way.
1. Planning
Before beginning palliative care, families and healthcare providers will create a plan for the necessary services. Your personalized plan will include the expected progression of the illness, care preferences, treatments and symptom management.
Because palliative care doesn’t always mean end-of-life (or hospice) care, the planning phase addresses support and treatment options to increase a person’s quality of life. However, in cases where a person is dealing with a terminal diagnosis, this initial planning stage may also involve discussions around final preparations before your loved one reaches the point that they may be unable to make these decisions for themselves. During this initial planning stage, many clients consider discussing factors such as implementing Power of Attorney, a living will, and other measures involving late-stage care and ensuring their wishes are carried out. In these early stages of palliative care planning, you and your family will explore all available options and share this information with your care team to ensure your loved one’s wishes are respected throughout.
2. Emotional Preparation
Entering palliative care is often difficult from an emotional standpoint. The need for palliative care means that a person is dealing with significant lifestyle changes that may impact their cognitive, mobile, and/or sensory abilities. It’s only natural that a person may feel overwhelmed by these changes and require emotional support.
Although the beginning stages of palliative care are often logistical decisions, it’s equally important to ensure your loved one, family and caregivers around them have a strong support system. Seniors may have access to social workers, psychologists and spiritual support should they need help with the transition.
3. Early-Stage Care
The focus of early-stage care is to ensure your loved one remains as independent as possible with the assistance of a caregiver. Once care begins, healthcare providers will recommend approaches to maximize independence and quality of life. This can include adjustments to their home environment, such as installing temporary ramps, grab rails, adjustable beds, and other changes to make home a more accessible space.
4. Late-Stage Care
Late-stage care is meant to make your loved one as comfortable as possible as their condition progresses, or – in instances of a terminal diagnosis – throughout their remaining time. Hospice care begins in this stage, as well as discussion and decisions for end-of-life measures.
Staff can be available for your loved one full-time or part-time, as needed. Respite care for loved ones often becomes especially valuable during this stage of palliative care.
5. Family Support
The fifth stage of palliative care extends emotional support to family members after a person has passed. Because palliative care does not involve a terminal diagnosis in all cases, not all families will go through this stage. Many hospice agencies continue offering bereavement support to grieving families for about a year after the passing of a loved one.
At BrightStar Care, we can offer helpful resources and connect your family with grief counselors or other mental health professionals. These are just a few ways that our team will continue to support your family during this period. As part of your loved one’s care team, your health and well-being will continue to be a priority of ours, too.
Palliative Care Vs. Hospice Care
Hospice and palliative care are often viewed as the same. However, these specialized types of medical care have important distinctions. While hospice is specific to end-of-life care, palliative care is a more inclusive service. Many seniors even choose to receive palliative care separate from a need for hospice. Here are the key differences between these approaches:
- Timing: Palliative care can be provided at any stage of illness beginning from the time of diagnosis. Hospice is only offered to people with six months or less to live.
- Treatment: Patients may seek curative treatment alongside palliative care. However, hospice patients agree to forego any cure and live out the natural progression of the disease.
- Scope of Care: Hospice and palliative care have similar scopes, both focusing on maximizing quality of life and addressing emotional needs. Unlike hospice, palliative care works in conjunction with curative treatments to best serve patients.
Know the Types of Palliative Care
Palliative care is used to address a wide range of needs. Depending on your loved one's condition and circumstances, their provider may suggest the following types of care:
- Physical: As with any type of medical care, the physical aspects are crucial. Physical palliative care accounts for symptom management, pain control, and other methods of minimizing a disease's adverse effects. It may involve medication adjustments and complementary therapies.
- Emotional: Emotional and mental support is essential for people facing a daunting diagnosis. Palliative care teams help clients and their families cope with the challenges and emotional distress.
- Spiritual: Many palliative care providers recognize the importance of addressing clients' spiritual needs. While never required, clients can request guidance and counseling from a religious perspective.
Family Support and Bereavement
If your loved one receives palliative care as part of their end-of-life care plan, our staff is here to support your family during this transition, as well as after their passing. Grief and mourning are intimate, personal processes for each individual and every member of your family deals with grief in different ways.
BrightStar Care is committed to providing the care and resources that your family needs to support your grieving process. A compassionate approach to care is at the heart of each stage. From recommending resources like books or guided journaling to connecting your family with grief counselors, we’re here to support you after your loved one’s journey has ended.
How Families Benefit From Palliative Care
Choosing palliative care for your loved one offers numerous advantages. The patient certainly benefits from an increased quality of care, but their families also receive benefits. While circumstances vary greatly from person to person, most individuals can look forward to these advantages:
- Reduced anxiety and depression
- Increased patient and caregiver satisfaction
- Symptom management support
- Assistance with decision-making
- Emotional support for families
- Reduced hospitalization
Palliative care plays a key role in enhancing the quality of life for individuals battling severe illnesses. Along with their families, clients receiving care benefit in a variety of ways, from physical assistance to emotional support. Our team is dedicated to offering a supportive environment where clients can focus on living their lives to the fullest with minimal pain.
Paying for Palliative Care
Too often, families forego palliative care because they're worried about the cost. In many cases, most of these services are paid for through insurance. Here's what you expect depending on your loved one's coverage:
- Medicare: Medicare covers palliative care services for eligible individuals with some conditions. It typically takes care of medical expenses related to palliative care, including symptom management medications. Medicare Part A and Part B may be applicable, depending on the specific circumstances, but keep in mind that Medicare will only pay if you use an approved provider.
- Medicaid: Medicaid provides health coverage to low-income individuals and families. It often covers palliative care and medications, but the extent of coverage varies by state.
- Private Insurance: If your loved one has a private insurance provider, it may cover specific services associated with palliative care. Be sure to contact the provider to learn more about the provisions of the insurance plan.
- Life Insurance: In some circumstances, individuals may be able to access life insurance funds to pay for end-of-life care. Reach out to the insurance company for information about the specific policy.
How to Start Palliative Care
When you know that palliative care is the right path for your loved one, BrightStar Care will lead you through an initial assessment to discuss your loved one’s current situation. Then, together with a registered nurse and your loved one’s care team, we’ll conduct an in-depth consultation and create a personalized care plan that focuses on the specific care needs of both your loved one and your family.
You are encouraged to supply as much information as you can for your loved one’s care and also ask as many questions as you need throughout the planning stages to better understand the road ahead.