Terminal care and palliative care are terms often used in connection with diseases that have a serious prognosis. Both terms deal with providing support and relief to people who are in the last stages of life, but there are some notable differences between the two.
Terminal care
Terminal care refers to the treatment and support given to people who are in their last stages of life and have a limited lifespan. The care focuses on giving the sick person the best possible quality of life and supporting them and their loved ones in their last time together. Terminal care is often associated with people who suffer from serious chronic diseases that cannot be cured, such as cancer, heart failure, or lung fibrosis. Read here to find out more about terminal care.
Palliative care
Palliative care, on the other hand, is a broader approach to providing support to people with serious illnesses. The care not only focuses on the last stages of life but also provides relief to sick people and their loved ones throughout the course of the disease. Palliative care takes into account the patient’s physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs and works to provide comprehensive support to both the patient and their family. Here can also read our article on what palliative care is.
Support through private care
One of the most notable differences between terminal and palliative care is the timing of support. Terminal care focuses on providing support in the last days or weeks of life, while palliative care begins earlier in the course of the disease and continues until the patient dies. Palliative care can therefore provide support to the patient and their loved ones for months or even years, while terminal care is limited to the last stages of life. In this context, a home hospice may be relevant, allowing the dying person to spend their last days in their own home.
Another important difference between terminal and palliative care is the purpose of support. Terminal care primarily focuses on providing relief to the patient and supporting them in their last time, while palliative care has a broader purpose of providing support to the patient and their loved ones throughout the course of the disease. Palliative care often includes both physical, psychological, social, and spiritual elements in the support, while terminal care primarily focuses on relieving physical pain.
The way support is given may be the same for terminal and palliative care. Both can be given at a hospital or hospice, or as private care – also known as home hospice in the patient’s own home, depending on the patient’s needs and desires. Read more in the article: Home hospice – a dignified death in your own home.
In palliative care, one of the main tasks is to give the patient control over their life and decisions, even when they are sick. In private nursing care, the palliative care team works together with the patient and their family to meet their wishes and needs, such as staying in their own home or receiving a special form of treatment.
An important part of palliative care is also supporting the loved ones. The team works to provide necessary support and counseling to the family so they can manage their own stress and grief during a difficult time.
In summary, even though terminal and palliative care both aim to provide support to individuals in their final stages of life, there are some notable differences between the two concepts. Terminal care focuses on providing relief to the patient in their last moments, while palliative care has a broader goal of providing support to both the patient and their family throughout the course of the illness.
Choosing the right care
It is important to choose the right form of support for the individual patient and their family as it can have a great impact on their quality of life and experience of support during a difficult time. If the choice is private nursing care, the nurse will often work closely with a doctor or palliative care specialist to ensure that the patient and their family receive the best possible support. You can read more about all the benefits of private nursing care here.
Private nurses can assist both terminal and palliative patients by providing personal and specialized private care in their own home. Private nurses often have a deeper understanding of the individual patient’s needs and desires, as they are close to the patient and their family. If nursing care is needed around the clock, 24-hour care is an obvious choice. Read all you need to know about private 24-hour care at home here.
For terminal patients, private nursing care can help with administering medication, monitoring their condition, providing support to loved ones, and ensuring the patient is as comfortable as possible in their final moments. A private nurse can also help fulfill the patient’s wishes, such as staying in their own home or receiving visits from family and friends.
For palliative patients, a private nurse can help with administering medication, monitoring their condition, providing support to the patient and their family, and ensuring the patient has the best possible quality of life even when they are ill. Private nursing care can also assist in planning and carrying out palliative treatment such as pain management and physiotherapy and support the loved ones in their grief.
Choosing a private nursing care agency
It is important to choose the right nursing care agency that has a deep understanding of palliative and terminal care. A private nurse can provide necessary care and support to the patient and their family in their own home, which can provide a higher quality of life and sense of control during a difficult time.
In conclusion, private nursing can be an important part of supporting both terminal and palliative patients, as they can provide necessary care and support tailored to the individual patient’s needs and desires. Find out more about the cost of private nursing care and the subsidies available.
Private nursing care for terminal and palliative patients
In conclusion, terminal and palliative care are two important areas in private nursing care, aimed at ensuring that patients and their families receive the best possible support and care during a difficult time. Terminal care focuses on helping patients have as comfortable a final time as possible, while palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for patients with life-threatening illnesses and support their loved ones.
