What Exactly is Palliative Care

What palliative care mean?

The term palliative care is used for specialized medical care offered to patients with serious ailments and diseases, that require a more comprehensive approach. This goes beyond managing just the physical symptoms and focuses on improving the quality of life by following more holistic strategies. While many people think that palliative care is specifically reserved for end-of-life situations, it is pertinent to understand that palliative care may be given at any stage of the disease to relieve pain and other symptoms, as well as to slow down the progression of the disease. 

Any serious illness such as Parkinson’s disease, chronic liver disease, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis and cancer, gives rise to various challenges that can drastically affect the quality of the patient’s life. The psychological and emotional impact of these can also be seen in the lives of the caretaker and loved ones. Palliative care experts work together with the patients and their families to offer personalized care and support, based on individual needs and preferences. 

Managing the symptoms: 

Comprehensive symptom management is the primary focus of palliative care. This not only includes the symptoms that have been triggered by the disease but also the side effects of medication and treatment. Common symptoms include nausea, constipation, loose motion, breathing difficulties and delirium. To ensure the comfort and well-being of the patients, doctors use a variety of approaches, including pain medication and therapies. 

Transparency and collective decision-making:

Palliative care also focuses on helping patients and their families make informed choices and adapt to changing circumstances by keeping them informed on every step. It aims at involving them in the decision-making process, making sure their choices are respected and taken care of. This helps to prepare the patients and their families mentally, easing the stress and anxiety that are often associated with serious medical conditions.

Emotional and psychological well-being:

While people mostly look at the physiological aspects of any disease, palliative care also recognizes the mental and psychological impact of the same. Being diagnosed with a life-threatening condition can leave the patients and their loved ones overwhelmed. Palliative care offers counselling and support to help people overcome such difficult situations, thereby enhancing their emotional well-being.

Techniques used in palliative care:

Various techniques that are used in palliative care, include:

• Medication, physical therapy and alternative therapies for relieving pain.
• Assessment of symptoms like nausea, breathlessness and insomnia and their management with a personalized approach.
• Impactful communication skills for facilitating open communication with the patient and their loved ones.
• Therapeutic modalities like massage, acupuncture and acupressure for patients who are not responding well to medication.
• Using assistive devices to aid people in overcoming physical obstacles. 
• Advanced care and support for end-stage diseases.

Palliative care does not aim at curing the patients, but it significantly helps in making sure that their medical condition does not take complete control of their physical & mental well-being, allowing them to lead a quality life. At Surya Hospital Mumbai, we bring together a dedicated team of doctors, physicians, physiotherapists, nutritionists, dieticians and specialized nurses, to curate the finest palliative care programs for the patients with a personalized touch, ensuring no aspect of their health is being compromised at any stage.