What are the 5 aims of Palliative Care
In this week’s blog post we want to share valuable information regarding how RC Palliative Care views the Palliative Program and ways we strive to provide our patients the utmost care.
What is Palliative Care?
The World Health Organization (WHO) produced in 2002 a useful definition, valuable when negotiating with local and national health departments who may not be familiar with the essential features of such care provision.
Based on it, the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) conducted a consensus process with over 400 participants from 86 countries, and after a series of discussions, rounds, and rankings, the participants agreed on the following definition of palliative care:
Palliative care is the active holistic care of individuals across all ages with serious health-related suffering due to severe illness, and especially of those near the end of life. It aims to improve the quality of life of patients, their families, and their caregivers.
In addition to the definition, the working group which spearheaded this effort, developed the following to describes what is palliative care, what it accomplishes and a set of recommendations to governments.
Palliative Care:
Includes, prevention, early identification, comprehensive assessment, and management of physical issues, including pain and other distressing symptoms, psychological distress, spiritual distress, and social needs. Whenever possible, these interventions must be evidence based.
Provides support to help patients live as fully as possible until death by facilitating effective communication, helping them and their families determine goals of care.
Is applicable throughout the course of an illness, according to the patient’s needs.
Is provided in conjunction with disease modifying therapies whenever needed.
May positively influence the course of illness.
Intends neither to hasten nor postpone death, affirms life, and recognizes dying as a natural process.
Provides support to the family and the caregivers during the patient’s illness, and in their own bereavement.
Is delivered recognizing and respecting the cultural values and beliefs of the patient and the family.
Is applicable throughout all health care settings (place of residence and institutions) and in all levels (primary to tertiary).
Can be provided by professionals with basic palliative care training.
Requires specialist palliative care with a multi-professional team for referral of complex cases.
This is a reminder that palliative care is not disease-specific, is not restricted to a defined number of months or weeks of life and is centered on quality rather than quality of life. Taken for granted in this definition is that the relatives must also be factored into the care program because it is impossible to care for a critically ill person if the needs of relatives are not also addressed.
RC Palliative Care isa family owned and operated organization supported by a team of compassionate professionals. We dedicate ourselves to providing all the care and support one would need for themselves or their loved ones. We know the difficulties encountered while a loved one is experiencing a severe illness and how hard it can be on a family, that is why we are here to let you know that you do not have to walk this path alone.The services provided by RC Palliative Care when a patient undergoes our care is:
Symptom Management
Medication Management
Pain Management
Care Techniques
Support & Advice
Specialized Referrals
Advance Care & Planning
Social Work
Spiritual Counseling
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Attribution for this post provided by the International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care by Derek Doyle, OBE, MD.