While curative treatments are designed to cure a patient, palliative treatments are recommended for people who require pain control. If a senior is experiencing a life-limiting illness, everything is done to comfort him or her, so palliative care is usually administered. The care does not rely upon a prognosis, and can be given at the same time as other therapies.
Therefore, senior home services may involve curative or palliative measures. It just depends on the type of illness. Palliative care is not the same as the care extended at a hospice. Hospice care is given to people with a terminal illness who are in the final stage of their life. Palliative care is not limited to patients who reside in a hospice, although it is often provided in this situation.
Palliative Care and Curative Care: Noting the Differences
If you are responsible for the care of an aging loved one, it is important to note the distinctions between palliative care and curative care and how they are used in the area of senior home services. Both palliative care and curative care may be given simultaneously or separately.
Illnesses That Often Require Palliative Care
Palliative care, when it is administered by professionals in the senior home services field, covers the following illnesses:
- Cancer
- COPD
- Alzheimer’s
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s
- Diabetes
- Heart failure
How Palliative Care Helps
When palliative care is given, the patient is able to experience the following:
- Relief from symptoms, such as chronic ongoing pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, or problems sleeping.
- An increased ability to tolerate certain medical treatments.
A Better Quality of Life
Whether a patient has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness or needs pain relief from curative therapy, palliative care is provided to enhance the patient’s quality of life. This is especially helpful if a patient has entered hospice care. Every effort is made in palliative treatments to ensure an increased comfort, whether it is required for end-of-life-care or a curative therapy. You can learn more about senior services by contacting Sacred Journey Hospice today. You can also follow them on Twitter for more updates.
