What Are The Benefits Of Palliative Care At Home?

There are several advantages to delivering palliative care at home for individuals with terminal illnesses.
Advantages of Home Care

1. For the patient

They remain in a familiar setting, retaining their privacy, performing some work activities, and continuing with their routines and some of their interests. The cuisine is more diverse, and the timetables are less strict.

2. For the family

They gain more enjoyment from actively engaging in the care. They may provide care in a more relaxed and hassle-free manner. They believe they can respect the patient’s desire to remain at home, and, more significantly, pathological sorrow is avoided.

3. For the health system

Long, expensive hospital stays are decreased. It prevents conducting unneeded therapies, lowering the likelihood of therapeutic difficulties. In overloaded healthcare systems, the financial savings that may be realized by shifting hospitalizations to the continuous home care sector can be considerable. This provides for improved public health efficiency.

Requirements for the patient to be able to stay at home

If the patient wants to remain at home, they must have a suitable social and familial environment, as well as family members who can care for them. In addition, health practitioners will be obliged to provide palliative care in the home. Finally, it should be verified that any medical equipment required for treatment may be placed in the patient’s house.

A palliative care team typically includes a medical coordinator, two field physicians, two psychologists, two nurses, two physiotherapists, and a nutritionist. Every week, a group conference is held in which all of the patients who are receiving assistance are analyzed, and issues in the control of symptoms and psychosocial elements, as well as any new requirements, are discussed. These events also help to improve knowledge in the field by updating issues in medicine and palliative care. Beyond the weekly meeting, the team’s experts offer fluid communication among themselves through the daily evolution, which is based on the patient’s clinical history record, which remains at home.

Palliative treatment at home also includes the option of in-home laboratory testing, radiography, and transfusion medication if needed. Other professionals, such as neurologists and pneumologist, who come to the patient’s home, can also be consulted.

Home palliative care is becoming more popular due to the numerous advantages it provides for both the patient and family members. Patients have a higher quality of life and easier access to relatives, which lead to improved health outcomes. Home care also aids in the reduction of stress for family members dealing with this tough and sensitive circumstance. Whenever feasible, care for the patient at home should be regarded as the first and best choice.