What type of specialised health care can palliative care
offer?
Some examples include:
- Pain management - including pain assessment, developing a plan
of action and monitoring and controlling pain
- Managing other symptoms that can occur when living with a
terminal illness e.g.fatigue and exhaustion, shortness of breath,
coughs, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and anxiety
- Revise and review medications and liaise between GPs and other
health professionals regarding appropriate medications and
treatments. This results in a more co-ordinated approach
- Other services including counselling and pastoral care
What type of practical support can palliative care offer?
It depends on the individual but here are some examples :
- Advice on the types of financial support available and how to
access appropriate council services e.g.home care, home
modifications etc
- Provide access to other health professionals e.g. occupational
therapists, physiotherapists, dieticians etc
- Can assist with accessing accommodation, transport, travel
rebates when requiring treatment away from home
- Volunteers can provide ‘a break or respite’ for carers
- Palliative care services usually provide 24 hour advice so
there is support when you need it
When should I consider palliative care?
Palliative care can begin from the first diagnosis of a terminal
illness. You and your family can begin palliative care when you
need and want support. Your needs might change as the disease
stabilises and palliative care services might be reduced or stopped
until further needs arise.
How do you access palliative care?
You can contact the palliative care service in your
region or a health care professional. Often your GP or hospital
doctor, may talk to you about palliative care as one option for
ongoing professional care and support. With your permission your
health care professional may refer you to a specialist palliative
care service.
Is palliative care only for people with cancer?
No. Palliative care supports all people living with a terminal
illness and their families and or carers.
This can include people living with end stage heart, lung , renal
and liver disease and conditions such as
Motor Neurone Disease, etc.
What is symptom management?
Sometimes an illness and/or medications can result in side
effects or symptoms – examples include; pain,fatigue and
exhaustion, shortness of breath, coughs, nausea and vomiting, loss
of appetite, anxiety etc. These symptoms can be managed and
palliative care staff have expertise in this area.
What is a hospice?
A hospice or a palliative care unit in a hospital, is a place
where specially trained staff care for people living with a
terminal illness in a home-like environment with hospital-like
facilities and resources. Palliative care describes the type of
care which is provided in a hospice or palliative care unit.
If someone decides to go into a hospice, do they have to stay
there?
No. Often people return home once their pain and symptoms are
under control.
Sometimes they may go into a hospice for a short time to give their
carers a break. Looking after an ill person at home can be very
tiring, and a break can help both the person and their carers.
Can you stop palliative care once you start it?
Yes. You and your family begin palliative care when you need and
want support. Your needs might change as the disease stabilises and
palliative care services might be reduced or stopped until further
needs arise.
When should I ask my doctor about pain relief and symptom
control?
At any time that suits you but it’s generally a good idea to
keep your doctor or visiting nurse fully informed about any pain or
symptom that you are experiencing. This will allow them to
select the right medication and other treatments to relieve your
distress.
If I am in pain, can it be eased ? and what drugs are used for
pain relief ?
Yes. Palliative care specialists are specifically trained in
this area.In almost all cases pain can be overcome or made
tolerable. In all cases it can be eased to some degree. It is
better to take pain medication regularly to prevent pain rather
than to let the pain return and then relieve it. Opioids are a
family of drugs used to relieve pain and other symptoms such as
breathlessness. Morphine is one of the best known and commonly used
opioids. Codeine is also a type of commonly used opioid.
What are the facts about morphine?
Morphine is often prescribed early in the course of an illness
in order to manage pain. This is not a sign that death is close and
using morphine to control pain may mean the person can continue to
go to work, drive a car and enjoy a life largely free of pain. The
appropriate doses of morphine will, in almost all cases, continue
to relieve pain right through the course of an illness. Morphine
and other opioids are not psychologically addictive when properly
prescribed for pain relief. | 