Palliative care: ‘Much more than end-of-life support’

A LOCAL healthcare worker has urged people to remember that palliative care is ‘much more than end of life care.’

Palliative Care Week aims to raise awareness of the difference palliative care can make to people with life-limiting conditions, carers and families throughout the island of Ireland.

Palliative care ensures that a person with a serious and progressive life limiting condition, regardless of age or disease, has the best possible quality of life which involves the management of pain and other symptoms and provides social, emotional and spiritual support.

Quality of life is sustained where all supports for a person with palliative care needs are mobilized, including the wider community alongside health and social care, which has been a feature of the community response to Covid-19.

Marie Donnelly, palliative care facilitator in Omagh, is keen to dispel a number of ‘myths’ about palliative care.

Mrs Donnelly said, “Traditionally people have associated palliative care with advanced cancer only, but thankfully that mindset has changed and people realise that it has a lot to offer people living with other conditions such as advanced heart, lung, neurological or renal conditions.

“Another myth is that people think palliative care is only associated with the end of life care, but that is not the case. People can have palliative care to enhance their quality of life and help them live with their condition – they can be referred to specialised palliative care for assessment and treatment for complex needs.

“Once managed, these patients can be discharged from palliative care.

“The term palliative care can frighten people but it is not just end of life care, it is so much more,” emphasised Mrs Donnelly.

The palliative care team can assist people with pain management, nausea, symptom management and also with suggestions and approaches to make people more comfortable at home while living their condition.

While supporting patients, the palliative care team and district nurses build a strong bond with the patient’s family.

Mrs Donnelly continued, “Lots of teams have strong relationships with patients and their families.

“The district nurses and the carers also develop a rapport because of the exceptional care they deliver for patients with palliative care needs.

“We aim to make the person and their families at the centre of the approach and they are involved in the decision making such as where their preferred place of care is.

“It is important that the person’s opinions, thoughts and wishes are taken into consideration.”

Palliative Care Week 2020 aims to acknowledge the community spirit that helps those closest to us to get better informed about palliative care and its benefits.

Mrs Donnelly continued, “During this awareness week, we are trying to concentrate on the role the community pays and how the community comes together for the family.

“People really support each other, and in the Western Trust area, we are very good at supporting each other.

“When someone is unwell and their condition is progressing, and we see extended families, neighbours and communities really coming together and that is all palliative care,” concluded Mrs Donnelly.