Palliative home care is there to ensure a patient with a terminal illness is as comfortable as possible. It focuses on improving their quality of life, rather than extending it. That’s why palliative care is often preferred in their own home, where they feel the most comfortable and relaxed. But, what palliative care guidelines should you be aware of?

1 – Create a Plan

Firstly, once palliative care has been requested, it is important to create a plan that is specific to you or your loved one. It needs to be tailored to the patient’s needs so that they feel as comfortable as they can. 

 

At Complete Homecare, our palliative care team work closely with all our patients and their families. We want to create bespoke care plans that will help ease pain, entertain and overall, improve their quality of life. Your current symptoms and health problems need to be addressed and any medications that need to be taken factored into the routine. This first stage sets out the palliative care guidelines in motion. As the carer and patient become more acquainted, factors can be altered. However, it is important that the foundations are in place.

2 – Emotionally Ready

At a certain point, the patient may feel overwhelmed and suffer from mental issues through the care. Though palliative care is not always the same as end-of-life care, the patient will still be in a lot of pain and suffer from a terminal illness. It can be hard accepting that they, or your loved ones, need that sort of care.

 

In stage 2, our palliative care team can help prepare you and your family for what comes next. This can include arranging therapy sessions and supporting mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. There are lots of ways to incorporate mental health support within care plans, including meditation, massage and outside activities. 

3 – Early Stage Care

One of the main benefits of in-home care is that the patient retains as much independence as possible. So, that’s why at this stage, it is important to consider any physical alterations that may have to be undergone. This can include a motorised and adjustable bed, travelling oxygen cylinders and stair lifts. 

 

Palliative care guidelines can arrange certain grants if various adaptations are required, including widening doors and installing ramps. The Disabled Facilities Grants do not just improve the patient’s life and allow them to continue living as normally, it also benefits the carer who is not relied on as heavily. 

4 – Late Stage Care

Stage four is when palliative care becomes end-of-life care. It is when health conditions have deteriorated and further support is now required. Often at this point, hospice care can be recommended. However, in-home care is still a great alternative if the patient or their family wants them to remain at home. 

 

This could include the patient becoming bedridden and suffering from severe mobilities issues; a decrease in appetite and difficulty in taking medications. However, palliative care guidelines will still support the patient, through psychological, emotional and spiritual comfort for the entire family. 

5 – Support

Unfortunately, after end-of-life care, there is only one stage left. After the patient has passed, it is now the carers will focus on their bereaved loved ones. The palliative care team will often offer this service for as long as 12 months, to ensure that the family feels supported.

 

But, it is not just the loved ones. Palliative care can last for months on end. Our in-home carers treat each of their patients as their own family. So, they will also be feeling a loss. Emotional and psychological support is also offered to our carers.

Complete Homecare 24 Services

Complete Homecare 24 are an in-home caring agency based in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. We provide tailored care plans that are specific to the individual and their requirements. Whether this is respite care, creating bespoke palliative care guidelines or adapting our care for learning difficulties. We are here to help! 

 

For information on our services, call us on 07955 460 847. Or, follow us on Instagram and see what we do directly to your feed. 

 

If you’re interested in joining our palliative care team, fill in an application form here.