Hospice care and palliative care services are increasing in the U.S., but there is ongoing confusion about what these terms mean.
The term palliative care is used to describe medical care given to people who are suffering from serious chronic illnesses to alleviate symptoms, but not cure the condition. The core principle of palliative care is the alleviation of symptoms of the illness in order to increase the comfort and well being of the patient and immediate family. This, as opposed to curative care, does not seek to treat and cure the underlying disease.
Palliative care teams provide assistance to patients who are in hospitals, in hospice care and in their homes. The care provided, while similar in some aspects to that of hospice care, is more broad-based and not restricted to those who are at end-of-life.
Key Aspects of Palliative Care
Many people suffer from long-term chronic illnesses that are not in themselves life-threatening but which seriously affect their quality of life. Consequently, people suffering from chronic illness often withdraw from society because they are embarrassed by their condition and their inability to function normally. Apart from experiencing excessive pain, they often suffer from low self-esteem and other psychological issues.
Because of this, palliative care programs are based on a holistic approach that seeks to:
Hospice care and palliative care services are increasing in the U.S., but there is ongoing confusion about what these terms mean.
With the responsibility of caring for and supporting hospice patients in mind, healthcare providers must be adequately prepared for treating the diagnoses associated with each terminally ill patient. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) released an annual review of the 1.6 to 1.7 million hospice patients from 2013 to 2014...
Concordance Healthcare Solutions has a long history of partnering with healthcare providers looking after patients suffering from long-term acute and chronic illnesses. The company's Extended Care Division provides support services to organizations offering home care, long-term care and hospice care.