Palliative Care: 80 Percent of Us Don't Know What This Is

What type of care is available to you alongside your current treatment program, is intended for patients of any age group who have a chronic, curable, or life-threatening illness, and is appropriate at any stage of a diagnosis?

The answer is palliative care. If you got it right, congratulations! You're part of the 20% of people who know all that palliative care can offer, but here's something you may not know. Studies have shown that people who receive palliative care early on in their diagnosis and continue it throughout their illness, do better overall. 

Palliative Care for Patient and Family

Even if you understand what palliative care is, you may be among the group of people who overlook its potential value for you and your family. A lot of patients forgo the practical and emotional benefits of palliative care because they associate it with hospice and the end of life. Palliative care is not hospice; They are two very different specialties. Palliative care is a tool for any stage of the health journey. 

But how do you know if palliative care is right for you or a loved one? 

For patients and families coping with cancer, dementia, ALS, Parkinson's disease, liver or kidney failure, congestive heart failure, lung disease and other similar illnesses, palliative care can be a needed and supportive approach. The care team will work with patients to find personalized solutions that may involve medication and nonmedication options. 

Palliative care can support families and caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed and address unmet needs whether physical, emotional or social. 

Overall, it's care that considers the whole person, their family, future and quality of life. 

Benefits of Palliative Care

Palliative care works with patients’ doctors to talk about the benefits, risks, trade-offs, and likely outcomes of treatment options, and helps the patient choose care that matches their goals and priorities. Other benefits include:

• Support in dealing with difficult decisions
• Answers to questions family members might have
• Reassurance and assistance in reviewing options
• Help managing symptoms like pain, discomfort, nausea and fatigue
• Support matching personal values with treatment programs
• Advice for patients and family on what to expect
• Assistance coping with stress, depression and anxiety around the disease
• Overall emotional support easing the burden of serious disease

Anyone with a serious illness can benefit from this type of care. And that means your family benefits too. So, ask your primary care doctor today about enlisting a palliative care specialist to support your journey.