When you or a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal illness, you may worry that their care needs will increase. Palliative care is a specialist form of support designed to help people after a terminal illness diagnosis, no matter how much time they’ve been given to live.
While end-of-life care is a type of palliative care, it’s not the only service offered. Today, we’ll explore palliative care and how long it typically lasts.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is a specialist support service designed to help people living with a terminal illness. Instead of focusing on treating the condition, palliative care ensures the individual is as comfortable as possible and able to live their life as they want for as long as possible.
Palliative care usually focuses on:
- Symptom management and monitoring
- Emotional, psychological and spiritual support
- Practical assistance, such as planning for the future or sourcing assistive equipment
- Boosted quality of life
Palliative care takes a holistic approach, looking after every aspect of a person rather than focusing solely on physical symptoms. It can sometimes be referred to as ‘comfort care’ or ‘supportive care’.
How Long Does Palliative Care Last?
Palliative care refers to the support received after a life-limiting illness diagnosis, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to die soon after. Palliative care can begin whenever the individual thinks they need extra support, whether this is a week or years after diagnosis.
Palliative care can last from a few days to over a year. Some people even choose to receive this type of care for years. How long a person has it for depends on the individual and their personal requirements.
When Can I Get Palliative Care?
There is no specific timeframe for palliative care. You can choose to seek it soon after your diagnosis, or wait until your symptoms progress and become more challenging.
A common misconception is that palliative care is only suitable for end-of-life, and this can prevent people who require support from reaching out, as they worry that they’re not close enough to the end.
However, palliative care isn’t just for the end of life. It can be received at any stage throughout your illness to improve your quality of life and honour your independence.
Who Can Have Palliative Care?
Anyone who receives a terminal diagnosis is entitled to palliative care at any stage of their illness. You can still receive palliative care alongside treatments, therapies and medicines aimed at controlling your illness, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
Palliative care may also benefit loved ones, including family members and close friends. They may be able to speak to professionals who can offer practical and emotional advice as you navigate this change together.
What’s the Difference Between Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care?
End-of-life care is a type of palliative care, but often a more specialised form that focuses on making individuals as comfortable as possible as they near the end of life. End-of-life care is often given to people who have less than one year left to live, while palliative care can last several years before this.
Many people with a terminal diagnosis will start with palliative care, which then naturally transitions into end-of-life care. End-of-life care often involves more specialised equipment, services and professionals to ensure the individual remains happy and safe wherever they choose to spend their final time.
How Do I Get Palliative Care?
When you or a loved one requires palliative care, the quickest way to arrange it is through a GP, district nurse or another healthcare professional. People already on your healthcare team can often refer you to a palliative care service.
If you’re currently in hospital, a care or nursing home, or a hospice, the professionals looking after you should be able to arrange palliative care for you.
Can I Get Palliative Care at Home?
Many people avoid arranging palliative care for as long as possible because they think they’ll need to move out of their home, but this isn’t the case. More and more people are now choosing to receive professional palliative care from the comfort of their own homes.
You can receive palliative care in a variety of places, including:
- Home: Receive compassionate one-on-one support from a live-in or visiting carer, while still being surrounded by your loved ones, belongings and cherished memories.
- A hospice: A style of care for people facing a life-limiting condition, focusing on pain relief, comfort and overall quality of life in a specialist unit.
- Hospital: Short-term care in a hospital, which can be provided by doctors and nurses while you arrange a more permanent care solution.
- A care home or nursing home: Similar support that you’d receive at home or in hospice, but in a dedicated residential facility with other people facing similar conditions.
When choosing palliative care at home, we highly recommend selecting a reputable organisation with fully trained, experienced carers. Trinity Homecare is rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC and strives to provide bespoke care to clients and their loved ones.
Learn more in our helpful guide on getting palliative care at home.
Does Palliative Care Mean Stopping Other Treatments?
Another misconception about palliative care is that it means the individual is ‘giving up’ in their fight against their condition. This is not the case at all. Palliative care can be given alongside other treatments, without one interfering with the other.
Some people find palliative care beneficial alongside their treatment schedule. Certain treatments, such as chemotherapy, can be hard on the body and mind, increasing the risk of adverse side effects and making it difficult to live independently.
Palliative carers can assist with symptom monitoring, transport to and from appointments, and emotional support surrounding treatment sessions.
Sometimes, people choose to stop treatments for their terminal illness. This is a deeply personal decision. If you’re considering stopping treatment, it’s important to let your team know how you’re feeling. They may recommend palliative care and explain how it can support you moving forward.
Does Palliative Care Mean I’m Going to Die Soon?
If a healthcare professional has recommended palliative care to you, you might be worried that they think you don’t have much time left. However, palliative care can be offered at any point after a terminal diagnosis.
Your team may be recommending the service just as a precaution, so you know your options and what you may want to look at in the future. They might think it’s the best source of support for you, including managing symptoms and providing emotional support for you and your loved ones.
When a healthcare professional believes a person has less than a year to live, they’ll often recommend end-of-life care instead.
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.
