Why Should You and I Care About Palliative Care?
My wife's oncologist recommended a palliative-care consultation during one of her checkups. This was the first time we heard about it and my wife subsequently received beneficial palliative care alongside her ongoing treatment for cancer. I've realized that most people know very little, or are misinformed about palliative care.
Palliative care is specialized care for people living with a serious illness. It is a type of care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of different kinds of serious and chronic, progressive illnesses, and is provided in addition to, and concurrent with, ongoing medical care. It supports the patient's ability to feel better while undergoing treatments which could be intense and sometimes not well tolerated. The goal of palliative care is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.
Quality research provides evidence that the early introduction of palliative care results in fewer hospitalizations, a reduced burden on the family, and greater satisfaction overall.
What, specifically, does palliative care do? It provides relief from pain, nausea, constipation, neuropathy, shortness of breath, or other side effects and symptoms caused by the illness and/or treatment. It helps when patients and their families have trouble coping with the illness and enables them to better carry out their daily tasks and do the things they want. Palliative care can improve the quality of life for both the patient and his or her family.
Care is provided by a specially-trained, multidisciplinary team that typically includes doctors, nurses, medical assistants, social workers, chaplains, and other specialists.
Needs could include: help with figuring out what medications should be taken and when; thinking things through and weighing options when faced with decisions on a suggested next step in treatment; help navigating the complexity of a large hospital when referred to different specialists or when various tests are ordered. Sometimes stress can overwhelm the patient, caregiver, or another family member, and they could benefit from having a caring listener or just a hand to hold for a while.
Palliative-care specialists treat people living with many types of serious and chronic illnesses, regardless of their age, stage of the disease, and whether or not they are still receiving curative treatment. Palliative care can be very useful for those managing a long-term illness.
Quality research provides evidence that the early introduction of palliative care results in fewer hospitalizations, a reduced burden on the family, and greater satisfaction overall.
Mukund Acharya, Ph.D.Most private insurance plans, as well as Medicare and Medicaid, cover palliative-care services in hospitals and nursing homes. However, you should always consult with your insurance provider to understand your coverage in detail.
I hope this has helped you better understand Palliative Care and dispel any related misconceptions.
This article originally appeared in February 2021 in India Currents.
Mukund Acharya, Ph.D.
Mukund Acharya is Resident Faculty for the CHT Program, Director of Ananda Corps and Member of the Board of Directors at HCI. He is also President and a co-founder of Sukham.