When you or a loved one is told to consider palliative care, you may wonder what that truly means. It’s natural to be concerned about the future when sudden uncertainty arises. However, it’s important to remember that palliative care isn’t only for end-of-life support – there are often several stages of comfort care.
Today, we’ll explore the five stages of palliative care and what you can expect as your loved one experiences them.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is a specialist type of support for people living with a life-limiting illness, such as cancer, dementia, and heart failure. This type of care focuses on managing physical symptoms, easing emotional distress, and improving overall quality of life rather than treatments.
Palliative care can be received as soon as an individual feels they need it. Some people seek palliative care soon after their diagnosis and continue it for months or years. Others won’t need it until the last months or weeks of life.
Palliative care can be delivered in a hospice, hospital, care home or in the comfort of home. It’s delivered by a team of professionals who work together to support both the individual and their loved ones.
What Are the Five Stages of Palliative Care?
Many healthcare professionals consider there to be five stages of palliative care. These stages are put in place to ensure the process is as simple and comforting as possible for individuals with terminal illness and their families.
The five stages are outlined below:
Stage 1: Create a Bespoke Care Plan
The initial stage of palliative care involves creating a personalised care plan based on your loved one’s diagnosis, care needs and future wishes.
A care plan can be created by a GP or care professional. At Trinity Homecare, we’ll help you to create a bespoke, comprehensive care plan tailored to your loved one’s wants and needs. The care plan can be adapted as their condition progresses.
A palliative care plan typically includes:
- Your current treatment plan
- Options for future care needs
- Medications and doses
- Approaches to managing symptoms
- What typical progression of the condition look like
- Your loved one’s care preferences
Your loved one may also need to start thinking about future decisions, such as setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney, creating an Advance Decision, or writing a living will. It can be beneficial to start having conversations about these important matters early.
Stage 2: Emotional, Spiritual and Psychological Support is Provided
The second stage of palliative care focuses on your loved one’s emotional, spiritual and psychological needs. The aim is to help them (and their friends and family members) come to terms with the future.
There are several ways this type of support can be given, including:
- Support groups: Regular meetings with other people going through similar situations can be incredibly helpful and let your loved one know they’re not going through this alone.
- Counselling: Palliative counselling helps individuals come to terms with what lies ahead in a supportive and understanding way.
- Trusted carers: Carers spend so much time with people receiving palliative care that they often become trusted friends who can offer emotional support.
- Friends and family members: Simple acts of kindness and companionship, such as popping over for a cup of tea and a chat, can provide more than enough support for individuals with a terminal diagnosis.
- Alternative therapies: Certain therapies can provide holistic support, such as massage and music therapy.
Stage 3: Enacting the Care Plan
Stage three focuses on practical support to help individuals stay comfortable, safe and as independent as possible. This is especially true if your loved one is receiving palliative care at home.
Their palliative team can arrange regular visits from a compassionate carer or more comprehensive support from a live-in carer.
They can also help deliver essential equipment to the home, including:
- Adjustable beds
- Grab bars
- Oxygen cylinders
- Nebulisers
The care plan should serve as a living document, updated as soon as symptoms progress or change. It should also account for different treatment options and side effects, and understand how the person with the terminal illness wants to make the most of each day.
What If the Home Needs Adapting?
People often require specialist equipment alongside palliative care. Your loved one’s local council may cover the cost of minor modifications under £1,000, regardless of their income or savings.
For more significant changes, such as widening doorways or installing stairlifts, they may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant of up to:
- £30,000 in England
- £25,000 in Scotland
- £36,000 in Wales
Stage 4: End-of-Life Care Begins
Stage four marks the transition from palliative care to end-of-life care. This natural progression may take several years for some people, while others may require it only a few weeks after starting palliative care.
The focus shifts to making your loved one as comfortable as possible in the final stretch of life, ensuring they continue living the way they want. Carers should focus on their wants, wishes and emotional requirements.
Some people wish to move into a hospice as end-of-life nears, while others prefer to remain at home. Their palliative care team should honour their wishes as much as possible to keep them happy and confident during this uncertain time.
Stage 5: Supporting Family and Loved Ones
The final stage of palliative care focuses on bereavement support for family members, friends and carers. Specialists may be required to help them navigate grief and begin to heal. Support is often offered for up to 12 months, but the specific help offered and timelines may vary depending on the individual.
Everyone processes grief differently. A palliative care team works with each individual to ensure tailored support is provided for the entire family. This might include counselling, group therapy, spiritual guidance or practical advice.
How Can Trinity Homecare Help
At Trinity Homecare, we understand the importance of compassionate palliative care and its effects on families. That’s why all of our fully-trained, experienced palliative carers offer physical and emotional support not just for the person with a terminal diagnosis, but also their loved ones.
When working with Trinity Homecare, you can expect:
- One-to-one support at home
- Completely bespoke care that has been tailored to you
- Specialist care for a number of different circumstances
- Home carers carefully matched to your needs
- CQC rated ‘Outstanding’ live-in care services
Talk to Us Today
At Trinity Homecare, our ultimate goal is to enrich your lifestyle in the comfort and familiarity of your own home. This allows you to live the independent lifestyle that you love without the daunting thought of moving into a care home. We are here to support you with various forms of live-in care.
Call us now on 0207 183 4884 in confidence for a free, no obligation quotation. If enquiring outside of our opening hours, please complete our online form and we will contact you the next day.
