Palliative Care in Philadelphia PA: Many people believe that palliative care means that their life is over. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Learn more about what this specialized type of care can do for your loved one.
You, your elderly parent, and her medical team may all want to decide together when it’s right to accept the extra help that palliative care provides. What tends to happen more often, however, is that your loved one may want to avoid this type of care because of uncertainty around what it can do for them.
The Focus Is Always on Quality of Life
As with any supportive care, this type of care is always on your loved one’s quality of life. It’s about managing symptoms for them and helping them to feel as well as she possibly can. It’s also not about forcing your parent to give up other treatment options she may want to pursue.
Your Parent Is in Control
All too often, your senior is in situations that leave her feeling as if she doesn’t have a say in what is going on. In some cases, you or her medical team may be forced to make some of these bigger decisions for her. But palliative services are about helping your parent to feel in control of her health and her future.
It Doesn’t Mean This Is the End
One big misconception with palliative care is that it means that your aging parent is giving up or is finished with every form of treatment. This doesn’t have to be the case at all. Most often, loved ones may opt to leave palliative care because they find that they’re able to manage their symptoms on their own or their condition has largely resolved itself. You’re not roped into palliative options for ever and ever.
Family Members Benefit from Palliative Care, Too
It’s not just your senior that benefits from her time with palliative services, however. This type of care offers plenty of emotional support and services that can help you deal with whatever your parent is facing. When you’re able to deal with your own emotions, you can better support your senior loved one. Palliative care offers the respite you need from caregiving so you can gather your emotions and prepare for what’s next.
You and your parent can start and stop palliative care whenever you like to meet your loved one’s needs.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering palliative care in Philadelphia, PA, please contact the caring staff at Serenity Hospice today. Call (215) 867-5405.
Michael Drew, LNHA
Michael Drew LNHA is the administrator of Serenity Hospice PA, servicing the greater Bensalem and Philadelphia areas. In this capacity, he leads and inspires the company’s mission of providing quality and compassionate end-of-life care and supportive services for patients and their families, and to enhance their quality of life. Michael’s hallmark is his genuine concern for patients and his dedication to meeting their needs.
A veteran of providing quality healthcare, Michael has served with distinction in a variety of leadership capacities for nearly two decades, notably as administrator for several Skilled Nursing Facilities in New Jersey. Known as an innovative and solution-oriented individual, Michael has his finger on the pulse on new trends and concepts in providing quality care.
