The Benefits of Receiving Palliative Nursing Care at Home

Published on: 5th April 2023
Medically reviewed by: General Practitioner at First Response Healthcare

Palliative care for elderly at home is a healthcare service that a patient and his/her can opt for in case of diagnosis of a terminal illness. Home palliative care services include nursing care services that a patient needs to fulfill his/her basic needs, right from physical to psychological.

Home for an individual could mean their own house or apartment in which they live. For some, a home can also be a nursing home, sheltered accommodation, or a remote property. Many people living with a life-threatening illness prefer to stay at home because of the familiar surroundings, independence, privacy, and proximity to family, friends, and community. Mostly, it is the elderly who wish to stay at their homes during their time of life-threatening illness and to stay close to their family. At FRH, we provide Palliative care for elderly at home to ensure the comfort and privacy of the patient.

Home palliative care services can help a patient carry on with their daily routine and help them feel safer and more comfortable. If you are looking for palliative nursing care at home, you can talk to your doctor, a trusted healthcare professional, or a close friend. Depending on where you live and based on your requirements, different levels of end-of-life care can be arranged.

What Does Home Based Palliative Care Include?

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.

What Are the Benefits of Home Palliative Care Services?

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.

When Should One Opt for Palliative Nursing Care At Home?

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.

Home Based Palliative Care In Dubai | First Response Healthcare

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.

Home Based Palliative Care Services Offered By FRH

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