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Being diagnosed with a serious illness, or reaching a point in our lives where we need additional specialised care, can be such an overwhelming experience. Not only is it hard to come to terms with the gravity of the whole situation, but your family and loved ones will also be impacted by the monumental change to come.
During difficult times such as this, it’s important to be aware of exactly what care and support is available to you. Here at Personal Farewells we’re committed to providing families with the level of guidance and support they truly deserve.
Through our time in the industry, we’ve grown and learnt to be that supportive shoulder you can rely on, offering that personalised familiar one-on-one care. To help families, we’ve put together this blog to delve deeper into the details of palliative care and how it may relate to your particular circumstances.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is the treatment, care and support for people who have been diagnosed with a serious illness and also covers natural end of life care.
It aims to ease the suffering of patients and their families by providing a good quality of life for all parties involved.
Palliative care is based on individual needs, so the services on offer will differ depending on each situation, but they generally fall into the below categories:
- Medical treatment and pain management
- Access to additional resources needed for at home care
- Psychological and spiritual support
- Support with everyday tasks
- Advice on other services such as home care and financial assistance
- Support services for the extended family
- Assistance with adherence to cultural obligations
- Additional counselling and grief support
Where at home palliative care for the patient is not an option, it may be provided in hospital or nursing home.
It’s important to remember that palliative care is a family-centred model of care, offering practical and emotional support, that helps people live their life as fully and as comfortably as possible.
Whom Is Palliative Care For?
Palliative care is not limited to any particular grouping of people. It applies to people of any age who have been diagnosed with a serious illness that cannot be cured and also covers natural end of life care. This includes people at all stages of life including; children, adults and the elderly.
When palliative care starts will be dependent on your individual circumstances. For some people this might mean from right from the time of diagnosis, while for others it may not be needed until your illness progresses further.
For those coming to end of life, this type of care may result in changes to medications, with the overall goal being to achieve comfort until the end.
It’s also important to factor in that palliative care is not a form of standalone care, while in this form of care, you can still also receive other treatments recommended by other health practitioners.
Where Is Palliative Care Provided?
Where palliative care is provided will be dependent on the care needs and individual wishes of the patient and family. This may include at home or an aged care facility, or at a location offering more specialised treatment options such as a hospice or hospital.
Personal preference will play a major role, but the ultimate decision will be dictated by the level of medical care that is necessary.
A Time to Plan Ahead
Despite going through such monumental change, palliative care can provide you with the right level of support and care needed to begin to plan for any necessary end of life arrangements.
Being in a respectful comfortable environment will give you and your family the time to plan and discuss your preferences for important decisions that need to be taken care of such as finalising your will and funeral arrangements.
Having the tranquillity to plan for your funeral will not only give you the peace of mind that your final wishes will be respected, but also it will also look after the well-being of those you will leave behind. By ensuring your affairs are in order, you will also reduce the likelihood that your family will be liable for any unforeseen financial obligations.
A Funeral Home That’s Right for You
If you’ve been thinking about getting your affairs in order and looking for the right type of guidance and support during this sensitive time, you can rely on us here at Personal Farewells.
We’re an independent family owned service who strive to always be there for families, offering a helping hand and an empathetic shoulder to lean on. We’ll come to you and offer a personalised service where you’ll have the undivided attention of one of our helpful team members throughout the whole journey. With us, you’ll have one central familiar touchpoint offering comfort and a level of familiarity you can depend on.
No matter what your concerns are or what type of funeral service you’d like to have, we’ll present you with a range of options to help you plan for a farewell you truly deserve.
When faced with a life-changing event, it’s important to gain an understanding of any help and support that is available. This will help to make sense of the whole situation and approach any future decisions from a more informed point of view.
Palliative care is a form of comprehensive support for individuals who have been diagnosed
with a serious illness and also covers natural end of life care. By offering services, advice, resources, and support, palliative care helps improve the quality of life for both the patient and their extended support network.
Palliative care can be provided at home or other facilities, dependent on the care needs and individual wishes of the patient and family. A big benefit of this type of care is that it provides a respectful comfortable environment, enabling a patient to start to plan for what’s ahead.
If you are looking for someone to guide you through the whole funeral arrangement process, you can rely on us here at Personal Farewells.
We understand just how difficult a situation like this can be, so offer a personalised service where we’ll come to you and guide you through every step of the journey. We’ll answer any questions you may have and make sure your and your family’s wishes are respectfully taken care of.
Should you have any further questions on funeral arrangements or any other matters, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
