What You Need to Know About Palliative Care

 

If your loved one is battling a serious illness, you may have heard the term “palliative care” from their doctor. It could be a scary word, especially since it is used interchangeably with hospice care. However, there are significant differences between these two types of senior care services. Here’s what you really need to know about palliative care if it is recommended for your senior loved one.

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is a series of services designed to improve the quality of life for someone with a serious illness. This type of care is all-encompassing and has the opportunity to positively impact the course of the illness with different therapies. Some of the services included in palliative care are medication management, nutritional changes, relaxation techniques, 24/7 health monitoring, and both emotional and spiritual therapy. It can be given in conjunction with curative treatment, depending on the illness. Common senior health conditions that can benefit from palliative care include certain types of cancer, heart disease, and kidney disease. The key difference between palliative care and hospice is that palliative care can be administered alongside treatments to potentially cure the illness at hand, whereas hospice is about making the person in care as comfortable as possible throughout their final stages in life.

Why Choose Palliative Care in a Senior Community?

Palliative care offered in a senior community setting can make a big difference for both the resident and their family. Despite popular belief, palliative care is available at any stage of your loved one’s illness. However, it can prove to be the most beneficial right after the initial diagnosis. As mentioned above, palliative care is for those suffering from a serious illness and would like an extra level of emotional support for both themselves and their family. It’s important to note that palliative care can also successfully manage any harmful side effects of the illness, ensuring resident comfort at all times.

Palliative care at UMC at Collingswood

UMC at Collingswood provides palliative care in our specialty care neighborhood, Bridges. When receiving palliative care at Bridges, a team of nurses, therapists, and other health professionals are available 24/7 to attend to your loved one’s needs, as well as your family’s. The palliative care team at Collingswood offers support for families both emotionally and spiritually through counselling, activities, and keeping the line of communication open. Our team of compassionate and experienced professionals takes the time to get to know each resident’s specific needs, wants, and concerns in order to deliver the best care possible. They will talk to you and your loved one often to ensure they are taking the right course of action at all times.

If you are still unsure if your loved one can benefit from palliative care, please give one of the care advisors at Bridges a call today. We will take the time to discuss different options with you, and our on-site medical professional can make their best recommendation after performing a thorough evaluation of your senior loved one.

For more information on palliative care in Camden County, please contact us today or visit our website at: https://umcommunities.org/collingswood/

This blog was originally published at https://umcommunities.org/collingswood/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-palliative-care/

3 Things Every Family Should Know About Hospice Care

If someone you love is about to enter hospice care, you and your family may have questions about what will happen, what hospice care includes, and how the process works. Hospice care is a type of palliative care for people with terminal illnesses, and the aim is to provide the person with the highest levels of comfort and dignity during their final months. 

Hospice care can be provided in the home by a dedicated hospice care team, or in a long-term care community if the person is no longer able to remain in their home. The choice to remain at home or move to a community is a personal one, and it’s often a decision the whole family makes together. In this article, our hospice care team will explain several key components of hospice care to help you and your family make the best decision for your loved one.

Hospice care is for everyone involved

When someone in your family is diagnosed with a terminal illness, it greatly affects the whole family. While it may seem that the immediate purpose of hospice care is to provide medical care to the person who has been diagnosed, hospice care teams actually work to ease the difficulties the whole family faces. 

Caring for someone with a terminal illness can become both mentally and physically draining. In-home care can lighten the load for family members who have become full-time caregivers by monitoring medication, assisting with routine care, and making sure your loved one is as comfortable as possible. Hospice care teams can also provide valuable resources for emotional and spiritual support, if needed, and keep the family up to date about next steps and expectations. 

Hospice care is provided in the location of your choice 

The top priority of hospice care is the comfort of the terminally ill person. Hospice care teams provide care in your loved one’s home, in assisted living communities, and in dedicated hospice care communities. There are many reasons a terminally ill person may want to remain at home, and equally, there are many reasons why that may not be the best choice for them. 

We recommend making the decision together with your loved one and with the rest of your family. Dedicated hospice care teams will meet you where you are to provide medical care, monitor and administer medications, and help create a comfortable, peaceful environment for your loved one. 

Medication and medical supplies are included within hospice care

Millions of families worry about how they’ll afford hospice care for their loved one. The good news is that hospice care is covered by Medicare, and medication and medical supplies are included in the hospice benefit. 

Some of the most common medical supplies are bandages, incontinence supplies, walking aids, wheelchairs, and hospital beds. These supplies and any medications will be delivered to your home for free, and the hospice care team will teach you how to use everything. 

You deserve to spend precious time with your loved one instead of worrying about trips to the pharmacy for medication and supplies. And thanks to the hospice benefit, you can do just that. Your hospice team will also be there to help relieve the burdens that come from being a caregiver, so you can focus on the valuable time you have left together. 

If you’d like more information about hospice care, or if you have any questions about any of our hospice care communities at UMC, please contact our team today or visit our website at: https://umcommunities.org/

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/3-things-every-family-should-know-about-hospice-care/

A closer look into the comforts of palliative care

As the life of a loved one draws to a close, treatment changes from trying to find a cure to ensuring comfort and support. As part of our hospice care program, Bridges, our hospice in South Jersey, we offer a nurturing atmosphere and hospice care services both to patients, and their friends and families.

Every hospice care program is different, but Bridges was developed specifically for United Methodist Communities at The Shores to provide a personalized, private and supportive environment for anyone with a life-limiting illness to experience high quality care and comfort. Some of the services and amenities we offer include:

• Private, furnished one-bedroom apartments with a dedicated kitchenettes and bathroom facilities.
• High quality beds with soft, luxurious linens to match.
• WiFi-enabled apartments and common spaces for the convenience of patients, family members and friends.
• Medication management, personalized care and meal service carried out by compassionate, experienced caregivers,
• Food  available any time of day or night throughout the week and weekends in the family room, so visitors and family members can remain at mealtimes.
• Spiritual support and pastoral care for patients as well as their loved ones.
• Our family support program helps loved ones and family members during this difficult time.

In addition, The Shores provides Bridges’ residents access to several useful and enriching amenities and programs, including outdoor garden space, music room, religious services, gym, salon, and a life enrichment program.

Comfort and quality of life is key at our Cape May County hospice 

The Shores, a United Methodist Communities senior and assisted living facility, offers superior end-of-life care through Bridges. With an emphasis on creating a nurturing and comforting environment, we offer customized services that not only support your loved one, but you and your family, as well.

To find out more about Bridges, our hospice neighborhood or our assisted living community in South Jersey, please contact us today to arrange your visit.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/closer-look-comforts-palliative-care/