End-of-Life Care/Palliative Care2024-05-21T12:02:30+00:00

End-of-Life Care/Palliative Care Northern Ireland

Compassionate, Dignified & Essential Domiciliary Care & Support

Individuals have the freedom to choose where they want to spend their time. Many prefer to stay home, in familiar surroundings, with their family and loved ones. Connected Health offers essential domiciliary support to help you and your family make this decision.

We will work with you and your loved ones to create a bespoke plan for palliative care. The domiciliary service we provide will be customised to your needs and preferences. We respect and value each person’s spirituality and right to receive dignified and compassionate care during this difficult time.

Our team will collaborate with healthcare professionals and other people involved in your care to manage your symptoms, preserve your dignity, and keep you as comfortable and healthy as possible.

End-of-Life Care/Palliative Care Northern Ireland

What Is the End of Life/Palliative Care?

End-of-life or Palliative Care is a compassionate approach to medical care that offers comfort, dignity, and respect during the final stages of life. This care is provided by skilled professionals who provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support tailored to the patient’s specific needs and wishes, comforting them during a difficult journey.

Who Needs End-of-Life Care/Palliative Care?

This type of care is essential for individuals facing life-limiting illnesses or conditions, where the primary goal is no longer curative treatment but rather comfort and quality of life. It can benefit patients with advanced cancer, heart failure, chronic lung diseases, neurological conditions, and other serious illnesses. Family members also benefit from receiving support and guidance during this challenging time.

When Should You Seek End-of-Life Care/Palliative Care?

Seeking Palliative Care should be considered when a patient’s illness significantly impairs their quality of life, and managing pain and other symptoms becomes a priority. It’s also vital when the patient and family need emotional and spiritual support as they navigate the complexities of a life-limiting condition.

What are the Benefits of End-of-Life Care/Palliative Care?

End-of-life care offers profound benefits, including managing the physical symptoms of illness, providing emotional and spiritual support, and helping families navigate this difficult journey. It emphasises the patient’s dignity, respects their wishes, and supports the family, making the final phase of life as peaceful and meaningful as possible. Connected Health’s approach to End-of-Life Care is centred on empathy, expertise, and comprehensive support, ensuring that this delicate time is handled with the utmost care and respect.

End of Life/Palliative Care With Connected Health

At Connected Health, we understand that the journey through End-of-Life and Palliative Care is as much about the family as it is about the patient. Our approach encompasses a range of services tailored to meet patients and their loved ones’ physical, emotional, and spiritual needs during this sensitive time.

  • Personalised Care Plans: Every patient situation is unique, and so are our care plans. We collaborate closely with patients, families, and healthcare providers to devise care plans tailored to each individual’s needs and preferences and adjust them as their condition evolves.
  • Symptom Management and Comfort Care: Our primary goal is to ensure patients are as comfortable as possible. This includes effective pain management, managing other physical symptoms, and providing comfort through gentle, compassionate care.
  • Emotional and Spiritual Support: We recognise the emotional and spiritual distress accompanying severe illness. Our care teams include professionals trained in providing emotional support, counselling, and, if desired, spiritual care, helping patients and families find peace and solace.
  • Family Support and Involvement: Families are integral to our care approach. We provide them with the support they need through counselling, respite care, or guidance on how to care for their loved ones. We encourage family involvement in decision-making and care planning, ensuring their voices are heard and respected.
  • 24/7 Availability: Our team understands that problems can arise anytime. Therefore, we are available around the clock to assist, answer questions, and offer support whenever needed.

You can trust our caring and trained team to be there for you every step of your journey.

  • Personal choices and opinions — Connected Health places the choices and opinions of clients at the centre of all care solutions delivered.
  • Communication is open and sensitive — As a client, your loved ones are informed about all options and resources to participate in care planning.
  • The care is person-centred and sensitive — It considers the wishes, priorities, and circumstances of the client and their family members or loved ones.
  • All of our care assistants have been trained in end-of-life care — They are also supported in learning new skills and expanding their knowledge to offer the best possible care.

Our team will collaborate with your health professionals and others in your care circle to manage your symptoms, preserve dignity, and keep you and your loved one as comfortable as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of End-of-Life Care/Palliative Care?2024-03-25T15:57:11+00:00

End-of-life/Palliative Care can bring numerous advantages. It significantly enhances the quality of life for patients by offering relief from pain and other distressing symptoms. Patients and families receive emotional and psychological support, which helps them navigate the complexities of the end-of-life journey. This type of care also aids in making informed decisions about treatment options and care preferences. It can reduce the need for hospitalisations and invasive treatments, allowing patients to spend more time in the comfort of their home or a homely environment. For families, it provides crucial support during and after the patient’s life, helping them cope with grief and loss.

Is End-of-Life Care only for cancer patients?2024-03-25T15:56:27+00:00

No, End-of-Life Care is not limited to cancer patients. It is appropriate for anyone with a serious, life-limiting illness, including advanced heart or lung disease, neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, and other chronic illnesses. The aim is to improve quality of life and relieve symptoms, regardless of the diagnosis.

Can family members be involved in the care process?2024-03-25T15:56:00+00:00

Absolutely. Family involvement is essential in End-of-Life Care. Families are encouraged to be involved in care planning, express their concerns and preferences, and receive support for their emotional and mental well-being. Care teams work closely with families to ensure the patient’s and their loved one’s needs and wishes are respected and met. Support for families can include counselling, grief support, and assistance with logistical aspects of care.

How does palliative care differ from other types of care?2024-03-25T15:55:28+00:00

Palliative and hospice care both focus on comfort and quality of life for their clients; however, they differ in timing and scope. Palliative Care can start at any stage in a severe illness, even before diagnosis; curative treatments may still be provided alongside palliative treatments. Hospice Care, on the other hand, typically starts when curative treatments are no longer pursued, usually when the patient is believed to have six months or less to live. Hospice care is more intensive and is focused on the final stages of life, providing comprehensive support in a hospice setting or at home.

What services are included in End-of-Life Care/Palliative Care?2024-03-25T15:54:26+00:00

This care involves a range of services designed to provide comfort and support to individuals at the end of their lives. This includes managing physical symptoms like pain, nausea, or breathlessness through medication and therapy. Emotional and spiritual support is crucial, with counselling and holistic therapies offered to patients and their families. Assistance with decision-making, such as creating advance care plans and discussing treatment preferences, is also critical. Moreover, practical help with daily activities and coordination with healthcare professionals to ensure seamless care is provided.

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