Palliative Care
Palliative Care Defined
Palliative care is defined by NICE as:
"Palliative care is the active holistic care of patients with advanced progressive illness. Management of pain and other symptoms and provision of psychological, social and spiritual support is paramount. The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best quality of life for patients and their families. Many aspects of palliative care are also applicable earlier in the course of the illness in conjunction with other treatments."
Palliative care aims to:
- Affirm life and regard dying as a normal process
- Provide relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
- Integrate the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care
- Offer a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death
- Offer a support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness and in their own bereavement
Who Provides Palliative Care?
Palliative care is provided by two distinct categories of health and social care professionals:
- Those providing the day-to-day care to patients and carers in their homes and in hospitals, this is where Loga Care is able to assist. We can offer a fully trained live-in carer to care for your loved one at home as part of the care team.
- Those who specialise in palliative care (consultants in palliative medicine and clinical nurse specialists in palliative care, for example)
Loga Care will assess each client and in conjunction with them, formulate an end of life plan. Our aim is to ensure the clients choices and wishes are always respected and implemented. Loga Care work as part of the palliative care team that will ensure a client remains in their own home for as long as they wish.
A Loga Care Carer will:
- Monitor, record and report on the the care needs of each client including the physical, psychological, social spiritual and information needs and work with the specialised palliative care team for example District Nurse.
- Assist with meeting those needs and implementing the bespoke personalised care plan.
- Refer to specialist palliative care services when required, for example symptom or pain control.
- Support and inform the family during the palliative care stage to reassure the family that the client will not be left alone in their home.
- Do all the personal care including mouth care for the client, ensuring a comfortable, clean and peaceful death.
- Do all domestic duties to ensure clean clothing and bed linen are always available for use.
- Welcome friends and family.
- Assist with client wishes, regarding meals, visitors, and end of life plan.
