Understanding Palliative Care

The reality of a terminal or life-limiting illness is, for many, incomprehensible. If you or a loved one is facing this difficult ordeal, you may view their care as a losing game. But there are effective ways to improve their quality of life when facing such a physically and emotionally taxing illness.

The concept of palliative care can carry a heavy emotional weight. But this is not synonymous with “giving up”. Choosing palliative care means you are taking every precaution to create a comforting and enjoyable life for those last few years of life.

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care, as defined by the World Health Organisaton (WHO), “improves the quality of life of patients facing challenges associated with life-threatening illnesses”. The fundamental purpose of this care is not to heal or cure these illnesses, but to prevent and relieve suffering. The NHS states that this is best achieved through early identification, correct assessment, and treatment of pain (of other psychological or physical problems).

For many people in need of this service, their illness is fatal and mostly incurable. Therefore, palliative care can be viewed as simply giving up, but it is quite the opposite. It is a common misconception that palliative care is a passive phase, where medical support stops. In reality, it is an active form of care that strives to make every day as comfortable and fulfilling as possible. 

This care focuses on pain management, symptom relief, and emotional well-being. Instead of forcing such a vulnerable person to endure constant and disruptive hospital trips, palliative care brings support to them. They can stay in one place, build relationships with their caregivers, and be secure that they are receiving personalised care in a comfortable environment.

Is There a Difference Between Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care?

Although these terms are frequently used interchangeably, there is a vital distinction between these two forms of care. Understanding this will help you to plan for the future with peace of mind.

Palliative care.

This is a broad umbrella term for several holistic support systems. It can feature at any stage of a progressive illness and can run alongside treatments. Palliative care focuses on symptom management and improving quality of life during this time. It can support people for several years in managing their illness and living a fulfilling life.

End-of-life care.

This is a specific subset of palliative care. Instead of focusing on long-term support and illness management, end-of-life care is for the final weeks or days of a person’s life. When a terminal illness takes its course, this care ensures they have a peaceful, pain-free passing.

Introducing palliative care early in a diagnosis can make a huge difference in coming to terms with an illness. Emotional support and symptom management will allow the individual to remain active, content, and truly enjoy their time with their family.

Palliative Care at Mulberry

We provide personalised palliative care services across all of our homes. Our services are designed to support the whole person, not just their physical condition, through:

• Pain and Symptom Management: Administered by our specially trained nursing teams who work in close partnership with local Kirklees GPs, district nurses, and Macmillan specialists.
• Tailored Care Planning: From speaking to healthcare professionals, family members, and the resident, we create collaborative care plans. These care plans will encompass their personal wishes, medical needs, and cultural preferences.
• A Homely Environment: Replacing the clinical feel of a hospital with private, comfortable rooms, beautiful sensory gardens, and familiar faces.
• Adapted Nutrition: High-quality, delicious meals prepared by our onsite chefs, carefully adapted to suit changing dietary needs or swallowing difficulties.
• Emotional Support: We understand how difficult this is for the resident’s loved ones, which is why we provide emotional support to family members as well.

Supporting the Whole Family

When a loved one is living with an advanced illness, the physical and emotional toll on the family can be exhausting. Many home caregivers find themselves trapped in a cycle of constant worry. With complex medication schedules, it can be stressful not knowing if you are providing the medical care that they need safely or correctly.

By choosing a dedicated palliative care environment, such as Mulberry, you no longer have to act as a family member and a full-time nurse. You can focus on building memories and emotionally supporting them, and leave the medical duties to our team.

When moving your terminally ill loved one into palliative care, you can be sure that their quality of treatment and life will improve. While Mulberry handles the complexities of medication and medical logistics, you can focus on being a loving family member.

We understand that thinking about palliative care is never easy, but you do not have to walk this path alone. If you would like to have a confidential chat about how our homes can support your family, please reach out to the Mulberry team today.