Sponsored by: Tidelands Hospice
What is Palliative Care?
When you or your loved one is seriously ill, you may feel as if your life has been turned upside down. It may become harder to enjoy day to day life as you increasingly feel more alone and helpless. Who can you turn to? That is where Palliative Care can help.
Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is specialized medical care for people with serious or chronic illnesses. It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.
Palliative care is a team approach to care. The palliative care team is made up of a doctor, nurse, social worker and chaplain. They will become an extra layer of support and partner with you, your family and your other doctors. Many of the areas in which you will receive support and guidance are symptom management, treatment options, goals, financial concerns and emotional, spiritual, and physical needs.
This type of care addresses such illnesses as cancer, cardiac disease, COPD, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS and many other serious or chronic diseases. Palliative care focuses on symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping and depression. It may be able to help you regain strength needed to go on with day to day life and actually improve your ability to tolerate medical treatments. With better understanding of your options and choices for treatment, you will feel more in control of your situation and life.
Facts about Palliative Care:
1. You, your doctor, or a loved one can suggest Palliative Care
2. Palliative Care is not Hospice Care
3. Palliative Care is for anyone who is seriously ill. It is care that can be given at any age or stage of a disease
4. You can receive Palliative Care along with curative treatment
5. Some insurance plans cover all or part of Palliative Care
6. Medicare and Medicaid may cover all costs
7. Most Palliative Care teams work within a hospital or health care system
Tidelands Community Hospice has been serving your community for over 30 years throughout Georgetown, Williamsburg and Horry counties. Tidelands Community Hospice built the first Hospice House, located in Georgetown to serve these three counties. Over the past few years, Tidelands Community Hospice has seen a need in our area with patients discharged from the hospital system with life limiting, but not life threatening illnesses go home with little or no support.
They may not be ready for home health or hospice services, but still need some guidance on how to navigate through a serious or chronic illness. Tidelands Palliative Care was born out of this need. A patient may receive these services at Georgetown Memorial Hospital or Waccamaw Community Hospital.
Palliative care is also provided in your home; you may receive a follow up call or a visit from a nurse after being discharged home from the hospital. With these services, Tidelands Palliative Care hopes to support these patients with their existing care plans. If you are suffering from a serious illness, you do not have to go it alone. We are here for you. Contact us today at 843.546.3410 for more information.
