How Does Palliative Care Help?
The palliative care team can help patients and families by: – Managing symptoms including pain, nausea, weakness, bowel and bladder problems, mental confusion, fatigue, and trouble breathing – Providing special services, such as speech and physical therapy, when needed – Arranging for emotional or spiritual support from mental health counselors and clergy – Educating families about the patient’s condition and providing advice on caregiving, including how to give medicines and recognize an emergency – Discussing the pros and cons of different treatments with patients and their families – Providing respite care so caregivers can take a break – Helping families plan ahead. In the case of a degenerative or terminal disease, this might include discussion of advance directives, such as living wills, to ensure the patient’s wishes are carried out How to Initiate Palliative Care Anyone perceiving remediable suffering in any patient in any service area of the hospital can request help. This inc
