Palliative Nursing Care at Home: Key Benefits for Patients and Families

Palliative care at home focuses on improving the overall health of people with terminal illnesses. Home palliative care services help manage both the symptoms as well as the stress of living with a chronic and terminal illness. Palliative nursing care at home can also include support for loved ones and caregivers. Because Palliative care at home is based on individual needs, it varies greatly from person to person. Home-based palliative care plans may include one or more of the following goals:

• Relief of symptoms, including side effects of treatment
• Deepening the patient’s and the family’s understanding of the disease and its course
• Identifying and addressing practical and spiritual needs
• Helping the patient and family cope with feelings and changes associated with illness.
• Helping the patients understand treatment options, help him/her make treatment decisions, and coordinate care.
• Helping the patient and his/her family identify and connect with additional organizations and resources that can offer support and guidance.

Palliative nursing care at home includes many forms of support on multiple fronts. Palliative care at home is meant to complement medical care. It can also help a patient emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Palliative care at home also helps address practical issues such as medical costs and legal plans. Here are some of the benefits of home-based palliative care:

1. Relief From Symptoms

Palliative care for elderly at home helps improve symptoms that affect physical, mental, and emotional health. Home-based palliative care can help with:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Pain or discomfort
• Lack of sleep
• Lack of appetite
• Shortness of breath
• Stress

2. Education and Guidance

The palliative care team consisting of qualified, trained, and experienced nurses can help the patient understand their condition better, including how it will affect their future life. The more information the patient has, the better decisions he/she can make based on one’s values and preferences. The palliative nurses can then communicate these preferences and priorities to other healthcare providers and can help the patient get the care the patient wants.

3. Social Support

Palliative care nurses and professionals can help build a support network to help patients and their families cope with their illness. Many caregivers undergo stress in a way that is detrimental to their physical and mental health. But with palliative care, this can be managed better and the burden on caregivers can be reduced. Palliative care professionals can connect the patient and their family with support groups and community resources. They can also provide family counseling. They can also organize friends and family members to help with caretaking responsibilities such as filling prescriptions, getting to and from appointments and so on.

4. Can Help Improve Quality of Life

Palliative care at home can help improve the patient’s quality of life. Studies suggest that those receiving palliative care rated their quality of life 3 points higher than those receiving conventional care. Over and above this, home-based palliative care continuously improves patient and caregiver satisfaction.

5. Reduces Risk of Depression

Early palliative care is associated with reduced risk of depression in people with newly diagnosed advanced cancer. Also, given that palliative care at home allows the patient to be surrounded by loved ones and family members in their own home, it can make the patient feel less lonely and more loved and cared for.

6. Longer Survival

Studies suggest that patients who choose palliative nursing care at home have longer survival rates. There is research to show that depression may be associated with mortality, and the absence of it can prolong survival in patients receiving palliative care.

7. Support for Family and Caregivers

Palliative care at home includes guidance and emotional support for families caring for loved ones who are terminally ill. Palliative care professionals help critically ill patients, and their families make decisions about the care and treatment of their condition as well as on how to deal emotionally with the diagnosis.

8. Can Help with Decision Making

Services of palliative care at home can also help with understanding the resources available to cover costs. Most private insurance companies cover some or all of the costs of palliative care. Palliative care professionals can connect the patient or his/her family with a financial advisor to help with financial planning.

There is no fixed time for palliative care. Many people turn to palliative care as soon as they receive a serious diagnosis. Early palliative care at home helps the patient and the family plan for the future. You can talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about when to go for home based palliative care.

First Response Healthcare (FRH) provides Home palliative care services in Dubai. First Response Healthcare makes sure patients that receive comprehensive palliative care in a way that every patient’s unique needs are met. FRH strives to provide personalized palliative care at home based on the patient’s needs and expectations. FRH has a team of licensed, trained, and experienced nurses who are not only competent in taking care of patients, but also have the right attitude and intent to help patients who are struggling to cope with their diagnosis. We have a team of nurses who help patients, and their families understand the nature of the disease through open conversation and discussion. We also have a team of home doctor service who are experts in various areas of patient care and wellness. Our team of doctors and nurses ensure that patients receive the best possible care without compromising their dignity. Our approach is to always be compassionate and inclusive, by always putting our patients and their needs first. Our goal through home based palliative care is to help patients live as fully and comfortably as possible, close to their loved ones and within the intimacy of their own homes.

FRH provides services of palliative care at home after an extensive assessment. This is to create an individualized, tailored plan and routine that addresses the patient’s symptoms and problems. Our nursing professionals can provide daily care and support, can advise activities that relieve pain and other symptoms and can help improve the patient’s quality of life. Our Palliative care services include:

• Detailed And Comprehensive Health Monitoring
• Medication Management
• Pain Treatment
• Help With Feeding
• Nutritional Support
• Psychological Support
• Assistance With Daily Life and Housework Such as Bathing and Providing Meals
• Measures To Ensure Patient Comfort
• Address Patient Health Concerns on A Regular Basis
• Treatment of Symptoms Associated with The Condition
• Manage Injections
• Dressings And Wound Care
• Injuries And Skin Care
• Support The Patient with Physical and Mental Exercise
• Respite Care
• Provides Nutritional Advice
• Provide Guidance and Emotional Support
• Providing Incontinence Care
• They Help Them Move Around the House and Improve Mobility

To avail services of palliative care at home in Dubai, you can contact First Response Healthcare by calling on 0505050387 or 800DIALDOC. You can also book an appointment by visiting https://firstresponsehealthcare.com/ae/dubai