How does Palliative Care Help with Symptom Management?
Palliative care provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to managing the physical and emotional burdens of serious illness. At Cherish Hospice, the goal is to enhance quality of life by alleviating pain and stress rather than focusing solely on the disease.
Key ways palliative care helps with symptom management include:
- Personalized Medical Strategies: A Medical Director and multidisciplinary team (physicians, nurses, social workers, and chaplains) create individualized plans to address pain, shortness of breath, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, and depression.
- Continuous Monitoring: Registered nurses provide skilled care, including health assessments, medication management, and constant adjustment of comfort measures.
- 24/7 Dedicated Response: A specialized team is available around the clock to address urgent needs and provide hands-on care at any time.
- Complementary Therapies: Non-pharmacologic options are used to ease distress, such as Cherish Touch (therapeutic touch), Cherish Sounds (music therapy), aromatherapy, and pet therapy.
- Holistic Support: Dedicated social workers and chaplains address the spiritual and emotional suffering that can intensify physical symptoms.
- Integration with Active Treatment: Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments like chemotherapy to manage treatment-related side effects such as nausea and fatigue, ensuring comfort is never delayed.
Related FAQs
-
How do Aromatherapy and Pet Therapy Help Hospice Patients?
Read More »: How do Aromatherapy and Pet Therapy Help Hospice Patients?Aromatherapy and pet therapy are non-pharmacological “alternative therapies” used in hospice to nurture emotional well-being and provide sensory comfort when a cure is no longer possible. Aromatherapy helps patients in the following ways: Pet Therapy supports patients through: These therapies…
-
Does Palliative Care Include Spiritual and Emotional Support?
Read More »: Does Palliative Care Include Spiritual and Emotional Support?Yes, palliative care includes comprehensive spiritual and emotional support designed to address the well-being of both the patient and their family. At Cherish Hospice, these services are integrated into a holistic care philosophy that treats the “whole person” beyond just…
-
Can I Receive Palliative Care at the Same Time as Chemotherapy?
Read More »: Can I Receive Palliative Care at the Same Time as Chemotherapy?Yes, you can receive palliative care at the same time as chemotherapy. According to Cherish Hospice, palliative care is designed to work hand-in-hand with curative therapies rather than replacing them. This approach allows you to maintain your medical goals while…
-
How do Doctors Determine a Six-month Prognosis?
Read More »: How do Doctors Determine a Six-month Prognosis?Doctors determine a six-month prognosis by using clinical judgment grounded in established medical guidelines rather than a precise timeline. This evaluation represents a physician’s best estimate that a patient has a life expectancy of six months or less if the…
-
Can a Patient Leave Hospice if their Condition Improves?
Read More »: Can a Patient Leave Hospice if their Condition Improves?Yes, a patient can leave hospice if their condition improves or if they choose to pursue different care goals. According to the provided content, there are specific protections and options regarding the choice of care: Related FAQs