Purpose of Palliative Care
Palliative care aims to improve a person’s quality of life by relieving the symptoms, pain, and stress of terminal illness. It addresses physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs, helping people live as comfortably as possible. A humanised approach must be present to ensure that care is tailored to the individual’s preferences and values. Palliative care involves open and honest communication between supported individuals, family members, and the palliative care team.
This communication helps ensure the person’s wishes are understood and respected, particularly regarding treatment decisions. The key aspect of palliative care and hospice care is to provide holistic care and support to the person, focusing on symptom relief and bringing comfort. Palliative care can be provided alongside curative and medical treatments and can continue throughout the course of the terminal illness, including end-of-life care. This continuity of care helps ensure the person’s needs are consistently met.
The Holistic Approach to Improving Quality of Life
The palliative care team’s comprehensive approach considers all aspects of a person’s health and well-being, recognising that mental health, lifestyle, environment, and social relationships can all impact a person’s overall health. By holistically addressing these factors, healthcare providers aim to improve physical health and emotional and spiritual well-being. Preventive care focuses on measures such as healthy eating, regular exercise, stress management, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking.
Another aspect that palliative care services focus on is personalised treatment options and plans, which a palliative care specialist provides. Holistic care also empowers individuals to participate actively in their health and well-being. By educating individuals about their condition and involving them in decision-making about their care, holistic care encourages them to become partners in their own healthcare. The outcomes are oriented towards better self-management of health conditions and overall health.
At Leaf Complex Care, our holistic approach includes the importance of communication between supported individuals, health care providers, and healthcare professionals. By encouraging open and honest communication and matching clinicians according to the wants and needs of the people we serve, our holistic care improves trust, understanding, and collaboration between individuals and providers.
Factors Considered in Palliative Care Decision-Making
Several crucial factors are carefully considered to ensure that high-quality care is provided and aligned with the person’s goals, preferences, and needs. Individuals’ preferences and goals for care are central to this process, encompassing their wishes regarding symptom management, treatment options, and end-of-life care. Additionally, palliative care enhances the person’s individual freedom and independence, with decisions aimed at alleviating grief and improving physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Other critical factors in palliative care decision-making include the stage at which the condition progresses, which informs the care plan based on the course of the condition and its likely impact. The severity and impact of symptoms on one’s daily life are also carefully evaluated, guiding the approach to pain management. Family and caregiver input is necessary, with their perspectives, values, and preferences considered when developing the care plan.
Ethical principles and cultural beliefs are also considered, ensuring that care respects the person’s autonomy and cultural values. Ultimately, by considering these factors all together, palliative care decision-making aims to provide personalised and compassionate care that enhances the individual’s quality of life and aligns with their values and wishes.
Individual's Preferences
Individual preferences play a central role in shaping the care plan. This factor includes the unique wishes and desires of the individual regarding their treatment and care. It includes preferences for symptom management, such as pain relief methods or other interventions to manage discomfort. Additionally, individual preferences extend to decisions about the level of medical intervention desired, including choices about life-sustaining treatments.
Individual preferences also influence decisions about the care setting and the overall approach to care. At Leaf Complex Care, we support people who prefer to receive care at home, surrounded by family and familiar surroundings, with humanised and person-centred care. Our care plans are tailored to provide the right level of support, and by honouring each person’s individual preferences, including spiritual and emotional preferences, our palliative care teams ensure the care provided respects one’s autonomy and dignity.
Consent and Communication with Individuals and Their Families
In palliative care, informed consent is obtained for any treatments or interventions, considering the person’s capacity to make decisions and their understanding of the suggested care. The process involves discussing the risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment clearly and understandably, allowing the individual to make an informed decision about their care.
Effective communication with the supported individuals and their families is essential in palliative care decision-making. This includes discussing one’s goals and preferences for care and addressing any concerns or questions they may have. Communication with the family is also important, as they often play a significant role in the person’s care and decision-making process. Involving the family helps ensure the care plan reflects one’s wishes and values, providing the right support, the right care and the right culture.
Ethical Considerations in Offering Palliative Care Services
One key ethical consideration in palliative care is respecting the individual’s autonomy and dignity. Leaf Complex Care ensures that the individuals we support are actively involved in decision-making regarding their care, allowing them to express their preferences and wishes.
Another important ethical principle in palliative care is putting people first, which involves acting in the person’s best interests. Leaf Complex Care provides compassionate and person-centred care aligned with the person’s goals and values so that they can live on their own terms.
Leaf Complex Care also considers the concept of beneficence, which refers to preventing harm to individuals and looking after their best interests. We ensure that support is compassionate, treatments are not excessively demanding or invasive, and the advantages and risks of any interventions are thoroughly considered. We value justice, ensuring that access to palliative care services is equitable and care is provided without discrimination.
Identifying Individuals for Palliative Care
Identifying individuals who need palliative care and providing early intervention is necessary for their well-being and quality of life. Although numerous tools are available to aid professionals in this identification process, it depends on a unique set of factors and people’s personal choices. Typically, palliative care occurs when someone first receives a diagnosis.
Chronic and Life-Limiting Conditions
Palliative care at home for chronic and life-limiting conditions involves providing comprehensive care and support to individuals in the comfort of their own homes. One of the primary goals of palliative care is to manage symptoms associated with the underlying condition. It can include pain management, nausea and vomiting management, shortness of breath management, and other symptom control measures. Palliative care teams often work closely with other healthcare providers involved in one’s care, such as primary care physicians, specialists, and home health aides. The coordination ensures that all aspects of the person’s care are well-managed and that any changes in their condition are addressed promptly.
Palliative care teams help manage medications, ensuring they are taken correctly and manage symptoms. They also help individuals and families understand the purpose of each medication and any potential side effects. Many palliative care services offer 24/7 support to individuals and their families, providing access to healthcare professionals and support services whenever needed.
For individuals nearing the end of life, palliative care at home also includes end-of-life care, which focuses on ensuring that the person is comfortable and supported during this difficult time. This can consist of pain management, emotional support, and assistance with advance care planning.
Recognising Physical and Emotional Symptoms
One of our priorities is regularly assessing the individual’s symptoms and adjusting the treatment plans accordingly. For example, if an individual is experiencing pain, our care team may prescribe pain medication or recommend other pain management techniques, such as physical therapy or relaxation techniques.
Emotional symptoms in palliative care can include anxiety, depression, fear, and feelings of sadness or hopelessness. These symptoms can significantly impact a person’s life and should be addressed with sensitivity and compassion. Additionally, providing a supportive environment where people feel comfortable expressing their emotions is always our priority as a complex care provider.
Professional Assessment
The assessment involves a comprehensive evaluation of the person’s mental and physical well-being in order to develop an individualised care plan. Here are some of our best practices when it comes to professional assessments:
Person-centred care. We involve the person in the assessment process and consider their preferences, values, and care goals, using questions to explore their concerns and priorities.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration. We collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, including nurses, clinicians, support workers, and other healthcare professionals, to ensure a holistic assessment and care planning approach.
Regular Reassessment. Our care teams conduct regular reassessments to monitor the person’s symptoms, response to treatment, and changing needs. We adjust the care plan as needed to ensure it remains aligned with their goals and preferences. We also use validated assessment tools to evaluate symptoms and quality of life.
Cultural Sensitivity. We strive to be culturally sensitive in each assessment, considering the person’s cultural background, beliefs, and values. We also respect cultural practices throughout the journey, including end-of-life care.
Communication Skills. We use practical communication skills to build rapport with individuals and their families, facilitate discussions about sensitive topics, and ensure that information is clearly understood.
Documentation. Our teams document the assessment findings, care plan, and interventions clearly and concisely, following professional standards and guidelines.
The Caregiver's Role in Offering Palliative Care
Caregivers assist with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and feeding, to ensure comfort and hygiene. They may also help with medication management, ensuring that individuals take their medications as prescribed. Caregivers also provide emotional support, offering a listening ear and a comforting presence, assisting individuals to cope with anxiety, depression, and existential distress.
They help coordinate appointments, manage finances, and organise household tasks, ensuring that the person’s needs are met and the family is supported. Furthermore, caregivers are crucial in end-of-life care, ensuring individuals are comfortable and supported during their final days and hours.
Palliative Care With Leaf Complex Care
As part of our commitment to providing tailored complex care support, Leaf Complex Care offers palliative care services that focus on improving the quality of life for individuals and their families in their own homes. Our palliative care services aim to improve the quality of life for people with life-limiting conditions, providing comfort, dignity, and support throughout their journey.
To learn more about our services and who we are, please contact us today or visit our Bristol, Exeter, Slough, Birmingham and Somerset offices. We deliver our care and support across the UK.
