Effective communication is critical to both the care delivery process and the role of a hospice palliative care organization. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure. Patients in palliative care may receive medical care for their symptoms, or palliative care, along with treatment aimed at curing their serious illness. Palliative care aims to improve a person's current care by focusing on their and their family's quality of life.
It is also possible to leave hospice care for a while and then return if the healthcare provider still thinks the patient has less than six months to live. It can be offered in two types of settings: at home or in a facility, such as a nursing home, a hospital, or even in a separate palliative care facility. Palliative care can be provided in hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient palliative care clinics, and certain other specialty clinics, or at home. The palliative care team also takes the time to help you tailor your treatment options to your goals.
A patient who begins palliative care understands that his illness does not respond to medical attempts to cure it or to slow the progress of the disease. In the United States, people enrolled in Medicare can receive hospice care if their healthcare provider thinks they have less than six months to live if the disease runs its usual course. A member of the hospice team visits regularly, and someone is usually always available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Over time, if your doctor or palliative care team believes that ongoing treatment no longer helps, there are two possibilities.
She thought she had lived a long and good life and didn't want to undergo dialysis, so Dolores started receiving palliative care. To begin palliative care, a person's healthcare provider may refer them to a palliative care specialist. Palliative care is provided by a team of specially trained doctors, nurses, and other specialists who work in conjunction with the patient's other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. If the doctor determines that the cancer does not respond to chemotherapy and the patient decides to enter palliative care, the chemotherapy will stop.
Starting hospice early can provide months of meaningful care and quality time with your loved ones.
