Palliative care encompasses the entire process of treatment of patients with chronic conditions whereby complete reversal or curative measures of the diseases have become almost impossible. Palliative care is also referred to as comfort care. The primary purpose of palliative care is to give assurance and hope to patients, including as well as caregivers, in the patient’s life to experience a most exceptional quality of life (DuBenske et al. 2016). The undertaking of palliative care entails various life dimensions, including social and spiritual interventions for managing symptoms and other psychological requirements. Thus, palliative care involves general care across the continuum of a patient’s ailment, with the most appropriate plans and decisions made regarding the patient’s sickness in the event of alleviating pain and other symptoms associated with terminal illness.
Impact Of End Of Life Care
End-of-life care is the central part of palliative care for caregivers who are involved in caring for individuals nearing their end of life. The caregivers may be relatives, friends, or trained personnel. These individuals not only provide health care but also provide social support to terminally ill patients. Palliative care usually involves exceptional care to patients, typically within the last six months of their life (Prince et al. 2016). The provision of adequate care to patients should be sensitive to the right time and at the right place and should involve comprehensive care (Prince et al. 2016). It also involves trained nurses via a palliative induction program, especially in practical communication skills in facilitating the shifting of patients to a community-based palliative care system with the appropriateness of the patient’s needs and comfortability. Both palliative care and the end of life care are meant to relieve the symptoms and pain in the most caring way.
Palliative care needs continuous assessment of the patient’s condition. For instance, North American nursing clinics have focused on modalities, thoughts, and interventions to be regarded for patients under a palliative care or end-of-life care program (DuBenske et al. 2016). Spiritual and emotional support is critical in giving comfort to terminally ill patients. Palliative care involves therapies such as those used in cancer patients to regulate the progression of the disease and pain relief. In the United States, palliative care centres accommodate inpatient and outpatient service delivery.
Evidence-Based Practice
Prospective studies have shown that most of the adult patients prefer dying at home. However, about 70% of deaths are reported to occur in a long-term care facility, a nursing home, or an acute care hospital (Prince et al 2016). Out of these statistics, 20% die while receiving treatment in the intensive care unit. Currently, 40% to 80% of US hospitals have a system of palliative care with others in their developmental stages (Prince et al. 2016). Emergency departments (EDs) and emergency medicine are essential in dealing with palliative care. Palliative care may be provided by a team of nurses, doctors, or other medical specialists to improve a patient’s quality of life at any age or stage of illness. Nurses and the involved medical specialists identify the special needs as trusted confidants and caregivers of both the patient and the family. As patients approach their end-of-life, they opt to seek care for optimal psychological, physical, social, and spiritual care.
Conclusion
Thus, palliative care is an essential health care program for patients, especially those with a severe illness such as cancer. Monitoring a patient’s quality of life is vital, especially in terminally ill patients. Since these patients have different health complications resulting from their conditions, the provision of palliative care requires well-trained personnel to ensure optimal delivery of healthcare to terminally ill patients.
References
DuBenske, L. L., Mayer, D. K., & Gustafson, D. H. (2016). Advanced Cancer: Palliative, End Life, and Bereavement Care. In Oncology Informatics pp. 181-203).
Prince, H., et al. (2016). E07-B Improving End-of-Life Care in First Nations Communities: Lessons Learned from a 5-year CIHR Research Project. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 52(6), e42-e43.
