Palliative Care Benefits, Comfort & Quality of Life for Seniors

Palliative care has become a well-known concept as well as a necessity nowadays.

In the earlier days, there was no option of palliative care. The sick were kept either in the hospital or cared for at home by family members. As lifestyle diseases increased, the challenges of care at home also increased.

With most family members working, it has become hard to take care of everything.  Even with hired staff at home, someone usually has to supervise the level of care and the correct administration of medication. The least spoken and the least understood by most is the fact that the patient is lonely, with only servants or hired nurses around them. They have hardly any companionship, and any kind of entertainment is also negligible. This leads to depression and an unwillingness to get better.

Aging comes with various challenges. Old age comes with multiple health challenges and needs attention. Seniors face serious illnesses, which include uncertainty, pain, and emotional stress. However, there is a way to handle this situation with an idea of approaching it with kindness, which is palliative care.

Benefits of palliative care are various; it provides seniors with appropriate treatment and gives hope for an improved quality of life. Additionally, it supports families who are unable to provide the proper care or nurse their loved ones around the clock.

Here in Sahabhaav, they believe in serving old people with all the love, support, and care they need in their hard times. There are 24*7 nursing facilities and other relaxing points such as TV rooms, outdoor games, and evening walks to enjoy themselves without worrying.

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is the medical care that provides relief from symptoms and stress of a serious illness. At Sahabhaav, we aim to give comfort to the elderly, especially when most treatments do not give much promise of a total cure. This happens not only in cases of cancer, but also in post-stroke paralysis, Parkinson’s disease, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s Disease. Often, medication gives only more discomfort with side effects.

Alternative medicine like Homeopathy and Ayurveda, therapeutic counselling, music therapy, movement therapy, and medicines to numb the pain (pain management) work wonders in palliative care. They provide all the love and support they need with specialized care according to their preference. They are provided by a team of doctors, nurses, and other specialists who work together to offer an extra layer of support.

The Benefits of Palliative Care

• Pain and Symptoms Management-

  One of the primary advantages of palliative care is that it gives importance to managing pain and other stressful symptoms. Whether it is chronic pain, stiffness, mobility issues, clinical depression, malnutrition, nausea, fatigue, or difficulty breathing, the palliative care team takes care with the help of nurses and uses various strategies to handle these issues, helping patients feel more comfortable and at ease.

• Emotional and Psychological Support-

  Palliative care provides emotional and psychological support, offering counseling and guidance to help patients and their families cope with anxiety, depression, and the emotional challenges that accompany illness.

• Improved Quality of Life-

  The ultimate goal of palliative care is to enhance the overall quality of life. By addressing physical symptoms, emotional well-being, and spiritual needs, palliative care enables seniors to live more comfortably and with dignity, allowing them to focus on what truly matters to them.

• Support for Families-

  Caring for a loved one with a serious illness can be hard and requires a lot of physical and mental effort. Palliative care extends its support to families, providing them with the necessary resources, utmost care, and counseling to help them face their issues and help them with the gift of caregiving.

• Holistic Approach-

  Palliative care takes a holistic approach, considering the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of a person’s well-being. This love and care ensure that all needs are met, promoting a sense of wholeness and peace.

• Assistance with Decision Making-

  Serious illnesses often bring complex medical decisions. The palliative care team assists patients and families in understanding treatment options, keeping track of medical decisions with personal values and preferences, and ensuring that the patient’s wishes are respected.

• Care Across Settings-

  Palliative care can be provided in various settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and even at home. This flexibility ensures that patients receive care in the environment that is most comfortable and familiar to them. We provide such an environment at Sahabhaav.

• Improved Communication-

  Effective communication between patients, families, and healthcare providers is crucial. Palliative care fosters open and honest discussions, ensuring that everyone involved is informed and on the same page regarding the patient’s care plan.

• Spiritual Support-

  For many, spirituality plays an important role in coping with illness. Palliative care offers spiritual support, helping patients find meaning and peace, regardless of their religious beliefs.

• Cost-Effective-

  By focusing on illness and its care, the medical expenses can be managed properly and improving quality of life, palliative care can reduce the need for frequent hospital visits and emergency room trips, helping lower healthcare costs for families. It can also reduce the costs of investigations and other doctor references, which are often done in a hospital.

Do you know? Data suggests that in India, there are 8.6% older people who are aged more than 65 years and are facing difficulties with their health issues. And 14.3% of people are staying alone, neglected by their families. Only 2% of people have access to palliative care services. 

For Palliative Care, click on Sahabhaav

Conclusion

Palliative care offers a ray of hope for those families who want to take care of their dear ones but are unable to because of lack of time and knowledge. It offers seniors and their families a path to understand the challenges of illness and helps to walk with dignity, comfort, and peace. At Sahabhaav, they are happy to walk this journey with their residents, providing the care, support, and love they deserve.

If you are looking to take care of your loved ones who are facing serious illness, explore palliative care options with Sahabhaav. 

FAQs about Palliative Care Benefits, Comfort & Quality of Life for Seniors

1.What is palliative care?

It’s care that relieves pain and stress during serious illness.

2. Is palliative care only for end-of-life?

No, it can be given at any stage of illness.

3.Who can get palliative care?

Anyone with a chronic illness, with not many cure options, with regular medicines, and not just cancer patients.