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Palliative Care

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What is Palliative Care?

As a way of managing life limiting chronic illnesses, palliative care assists in relieving suffering and improving quality of life for clients and their family members. Palliative care follows an interdisciplinary team approach of care that includes the client and family members to ensure the physical, emotional and spiritual needs are met.

The ultimate goal of palliative care is for the client to achieve the best quality of life possible. Palliative care is not hospice, although they do share similarities. Unlike hospice, clients served by the Palliative care team, can continue to have active curative treatment and are not limited to a six month life expectancy.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

Palliative care is appropriate for clients who are having unmanaged symptoms related to a life limiting disease.

EXAMPLES OF SUCH LIFE LIMITING ILLNESSES ARE:

  • Cancer, that is still being medically treated
  • Heart, respiratory, kidney or liver diseases
  • Neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s or ALS
  • Debility or great age

Many people wonder when to start palliative care. Palliation or symptom management can start anytime you are aware that you have a disease in which your symptoms are not controlled at a level of comfort for you. Our care will help the client and family address symptoms such as pain, nausea, and fear.

REFERRALS

Referrals to Palliative Care can be made by self, family, friends and medical referrals. A physician must confirm the need for palliation.

Palliative care provides quality care that supports clients and their families.

Palliative care is provided in the home in the form of a consultative visit by the nurse and social worker. Depending on client needs a plan of care will be developed. Nursing home residents and hospital patients may also be seen for consultative services.

WHAT IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM?

An interdisciplinary team is a team of professionals who work together with the client and family to coordinate care.

TEAM MEMBERS INCLUDE:

  • The client
  • The family
  • Nurse (coordinator and manager)
  • Home health aides
  • Social worker
  • Medical director
  • Primary care provider, family physician
  • Pharmacist and therapy services, as needed

Working together, this team addresses the needs of the client and family members such as management of pain, nausea, fear, crisis intervention, spiritual and emotional needs and assistance with
community liaisons.

PALLIATIVE CARE

You will be glad to know that Palliative care can be paid for in a variety of ways. These resources include Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, private pay and charity care.

To learn how we may be of help to you or your family, please contact our office at:

  • LifeCare Home Care & Hospice
  • 715 Delmore Drive
  • Roseau, MN 56761
  • (218) 463-3211
  • (800) 356-7731

LifeCare Home Care is Medicare certified and Joint Commission Accredited.

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