Hospice or Palliative care can play a key role in providing a higher quality of life and comfort in the treatment of a chronic or life-limiting illness.Receiving a frightening diagnosis and questions that face individuals or family members can be very overwhelming. Reactions to that news can present needless anxiety. Providing Peace of Mind through Hospice or Palliative care can help relieve that stress.Most turn to Hospice or Palliative care during the last moments, when the progression of the illness has made it more difficult. Focusing on quality and comfort, when more conventional treatments become burdensome is equally hard. Hospice and Palliative care has shown to enhance the quality of life and help in maintaining the integrity of patients and their families in need of supportive or end-of-life services by offering them symptom management support, comfort and compassion.Hospice or Palliative care isnt about giving up hope or hastening death, but rather a way to get the most appropriate care in the last phases of life. Hospice care focuses on all aspects of a patients life and well-being. Physical, social, emotional and spiritual services are provided in developing a care plan tailored to the patients individual needs. Emotional and spiritual support is also offered to the patients loved ones as well, including grief counseling. Palliative care is an approach that focuses on the relief of pain, symptoms and the emotional stress brought on by serious illness. Research published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management found that terminally-ill patients who received Hospice care lived on average 29 days longer than those who did not opt for hospice near the end of life.Source: National Hospice and Palliative Care OrganizationSeeking Hospice or Palliative services earlier, rather than later, allows patients and their families to take advantage of their options in seeking help. The additional attention provided allows the patient and their families the needed support and care that can help answer the often un-asked question of What is important to YOU? Addressing that important question through Hospice and Palliative care can often identify the unique needs that can and will improve ones quality of life.Editors Note: This article was submitted by Ron Padilla with Sangre de Cristo Hospice & Palliative Care. He may be reached at 719-542-0032 or by email at ronald.padilla@socohospice.org
