Palliative Care is a specialised area of medicine that deals with the relief of symptoms, pain, and stress associated with life-limiting illnesses. It has been available in Australia since 1986. The term palliative care is often confused with hospice care which focuses on end-of-life care but can also be provided to people who are not at the end of their life.
Palliative Care can only be provided for people who are deemed to have a terminal illness.
Melbourne Palliative Care is not just for people who are dying. Palliative Care can be provided for people who have a life-threatening illness and would benefit from support, services, and care from a team of healthcare professionals with expertise in palliative care.
Palliative Care can be provided for anyone with a life-threatening illness
Palliative Care can be provided for anyone with a life-threatening illness. It is not dependent on the cause of the illness, for example, whether it was cancer or heart disease. Palliative Care can also be provided to people whose illness does not have a known cause, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Palliative Care can be provided to anyone who has a terminal illness and this includes conditions such as motor neuron disease which is often referred to as ‘Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS).
Some illnesses can last many years and this may not be considered the palliative stage of an illness.
While Melbourne Palliative Care may be appropriate for some people at any time, this is not always the case. Some illnesses can last many years and this may not be considered the palliative stage of an illness.
For example, a cancer patient may undergo chemotherapy and radiation multiple times over an extended period of time to treat their disease successfully. The patient may be considered in remission after treatment, which means they no longer have evidence of cancer in their body but they are not cured yet. If this person has had a good quality of life during active treatment and feels well enough to continue living with their family or friends who provide support services like help with meals, transportation or shopping then there is no need for palliative care at that time.
If you have been assessed as having a terminal illness, Palliative Care can commence at any time.
You can ask your specialist or GP if you would benefit from a Palliative Care assessment and support. They may refer you to a Palliative Care team for an assessment if they feel that it is appropriate.
Your GP may also refer you directly to the Palliative Care team if they think that you would benefit from their services.
You do not need to wait until your condition is critical before you seek support.
You do not need to wait until your condition is critical before you seek support. The earlier that you start talking with people, the more likely it is that you will avoid unnecessary difficulties and hospitalisations. It’s also the case that if you have more time to prepare, the more likely it is that you will be able to make decisions about your care and treatment at a time when they are most meaningful for you.
In fact, the earlier that it starts, the more likely it is that you will avoid unnecessary difficulties and hospitalisations.
In fact, the earlier that it starts, the more likely it is that you will avoid unnecessary difficulties and hospitalisations. People who have palliative care early are less likely to have a prolonged stay in hospital or an extended period of time where they do not have full control of their own lives. In other words, if palliative care is given when needed, then it may lead to less need for intensive medical treatment.
You can ask your specialist or GP if you would benefit from a Palliative Care assessment and support.
You can ask your specialist or GP about palliative care. They will talk to you about what is happening in your cancer journey, and whether it is likely that the treatment you are receiving will be successful.
If they decide that it is appropriate for you to be considered for Palliative Care, they may refer you to a specialist who can decide if this would benefit you.
Conclusion
Melbourne Palliative Care offers support to anyone who has been assessed as having a terminal illness. You do not need to wait until your condition is critical before seeking help. In fact, the earlier that it starts, the more likely it is that you will avoid unnecessary difficulties and hospitalisations.
