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Supportive Palliative Care

Cancer.  Kidney failure.  Parkinson’s.  Alzheimer’s.  MS.  ALS.  COPD.  Congestive heart failure.  Dementia.  Chronic asthma.  Stroke. 

Being diagnosed with any serious condition is sobering, often shocking, and usually comes with much trepidation.  Fear [of the unknown: what will happen next; and of the known: my friend suffered from that] is the normal first reaction from a patient and their family upon receiving such dreaded news.  Questions about treatment and prognosis arise along with uncertainty of financial burdens associated with the illness.

The earlier a patient is introduced to supportive palliative care the sooner those questions and fears can be addressed.

Supportive palliative care is a specialized form of health care for patients living with a serious, chronic, or debilitating disease.  Its purpose is to enhance the quality of life of those patients and their families by addressing pain and other symptoms; by offering emotional, social, and spiritual support; and by providing education for informed decision-making.

The word palliative is briefly defined as relieving pain without dealing with the underlying cause.  Its intent is not to cure, but to make daily life livable by focusing on the symptoms and stresses caused by the illness as well as the side effects of treatment.

Palliative care teams act as liaisons between the patient and the medical community.  They work to understand and represent the goals and wishes of the patient.  Their aim is to give autonomy and control to the patient and their family while bringing them relief, information, and significance.

Supportive palliative care is beneficial to all ages and can begin at any stage of a disease.  As the illness continues and other medical professionals work towards a cure or remission, the palliative care team works to alleviate distress and to help open communication among all involved.  It can obtain information about insurance and financial support.  It can connect the friends, family, caregivers, and patient with counselors and professionals who can offer emotional and spiritual support.  It can bring clarity and guidance in the midst of difficult decisions.

If you or a loved one are living with a serious medical condition, consider requesting assistance from a supportive palliative care team.  We at Gifted Hearts Hospice and Palliative Care in Seguin, Tx, are ready to assist you with our experienced staff and palliative care professionals.

Gifted Hearts Hospice and Palliative Care in Seguin, TX, is a fully staffed facility available to patients who call South Central Texas their home.  It is nestled in the beautiful New Braunfels area as the best hospice near San Antonio, Texas.  It offers palliative care for patients of any age in any stage of illness.  It also offers all four levels of hospice care and maintains its motto: “Live until you Leave.”