The purposes of treatment and care plans can vary, but they typically intend to either prevent a condition, reduce its effects or relieve its symptoms. Palliative care is focused on the latter, and it is a remarkably far-reaching field.
Also known as supportive care, palliative care can and often is provided at any stage of an illness, not only for people with terminal or end-stage conditions. In many cases, it is provided alongside curative treatment to help relieve any side effects.
Because it intends to support people, particularly with progressive conditions such as dementia, supportive care can begin at any stage once someone is diagnosed and typically takes the form of these five stages.
Establishing A Personal Care Plan
As with any form of treatment or social care, a care plan is essential to ensure that your individual needs are met, which provider is best equipped to meet them, and what happens if these needs change, as can happen to everyone.
With dementia, this stage is also often where the first steps towards advanced care planning are established, to ensure that your needs are met throughout your care. You do not need to make any firm decisions at this stage, but it often helps to start these discussions.
Providing Emotional Support
In situations where palliative care is needed, it may not always be easy to prepare or know how to prepare for the next stages of your care journey, which is why emotional, psychological and spiritual support are available for you and your family when you need them.
Early Stage Support
Palliative care begins at a time that you want and is established in the care plan, often alongside other treatments and care.
The aim is to help you feel as comfortable as possible, enjoy life as much as possible, help manage the side effects of treatments and be prepared to adapt to changes in symptoms.
End Stage Care
Also known as hospice care, end-stage care is focused on ensuring you are as comfortable as possible and any arrangements you need to make are undertaken before it is no longer possible to do so.
Your friends, family and loved ones will also be supported during this time, ensuring they can be with you.
Supporting Loved Ones
Finally, the palliative team will offer support to your loved ones to help them manage during an often difficult time. This stage can often last over a year to ensure that people receive the supportive care they need.