Who Provides Palliative Care?
Acaregivinggroupoffamily,friends,and healthcareprovidersandvolunteersmakeupthePalliativeCareTeam.Theteamisdeterminedbytheneedsofthepersonthatis illandhis/herfamily.Itcan includea:
- Familydoctororadoctorspecializingin palliativecare
- Nurse
- CommunityHealthRepresentative
- SocialWorkerorCommunityWellness Worker
- SpiritualCounsellor/Traditional Healer
- PersonalSupportWorker/HomeSupportWorker
- Community-basedhealthprovider
- Pharmacist,nutritionist,physiotherapist, occupationaltherapist,volunteersand anyonewhocan meettheill person’sneeds
Where Can I Find More Information?
Formoreinformation,startbytalkingtoyourdoctor,nurse,communityhealthrepresentative(CHR), spiritual care provider oranyotherhealthcareprovider.Areferraltoapalliativecarenurseorpalliativecarevolunteerteamcanbemadebyanyone,includingtheperson that is ill, a family member, a spiritual care provider, aphysician or any other health care provider.
WHAT IS PALLIATIVE CARE?
PalliativeCareisaspecialtypeofhealthcarethatprovidescare,comfortandsupporttoindividualswho are living with a life threatening illness and their families
- Itisforpeopleofallages.
- Itsfocusisonthepersonandnotthedisease.
- Itisaboutimprovingthequalityoflifeatatimewhen thegoalisnottocure.
Palliativecareinvolvesawiderangeofservicesthatcanbepersonalizedtomeettheneedsofthepersonlivingwithaterminalillnessandtheirfamily.Theseservicesmayvaryfromplacetoplace,butgenerally,include:
Painandsymptommanagement
Familydoctorsordoctorswhospecializeinpalliative carecanhelpwithpainandsymptomssuchasnausea,lossofappetite,vomiting,constipation,shortnessofbreath,fatigue,difficultysleeping,etc. Homevisitsbyanursemayalsobeavailable.
Socialandemotionalsupport
Supportcanbemadeavailabletohelpdealwithfeelings,suchasfearandgrieforconcernsabouttheillness.
Spiritual support
Arrangementsforspiritualsupportcanbemadewhetherthepersonisathome,inhospital,orinalong-term carefacility.
Caregiversupport(includingfamilyandcommunitycareproviders)
Supportandadvicecanbeprovidedtofamily caregivers,aswellascommunity-basedcareproviders onmakingthepersonthatisillfeelmorecomfortable.
Volunteer support
Volunteersmaybeavailabletoprovidesupportservicessuchascompanionship,providereliefforthecaregiverandoffertransportation.
Bereavementsupport
Grief supportisavailabletohelpthefamilyworkthroughemotionsandgriefregardingtheillnessand death ofalovedone.
Linkstoresources
Other programs may be availableto the personreceivingpalliativecaredependingonwhatservicesarepresentinyourarea.Forexample,homecareprovidesavarietyofservicestohelptakecareofthefamilyandhome;‘MealsonWheels’programsprovidenutritiousmealsthatcanbedeliveredrighttothehome.
Where is Palliative Care Provided?
Palliativecaremaybeprovidedinavarietyofsettings:
Home
Homeiswheremostpeopleprefertolivewhenthey haveaterminalillness.Homeprovidesacomfortable,private,informalsettingthatisfamiliarforthepersonwhoisill,and allowsthecaregivers,familymembersandfriendstovisitasoftenastheylike.
Hospitals
Hospitalsmayprovideasenseofsecuritytotheperson requiringpalliativecareastheyareabletoprovidedirectaccesstodoctors,nursesandotherhealthcareproviders.Somehospitalsmayevenhaveapalliative careunit.
Long-termcarefacilities
Long-termcarefacilities,suchasnursinghomes,maybeusedforshortperiodsoftimetohelpcontrolpainand symptomsortoproviderespitetothecaregiver.