Caring for a loved one in need of palliative care is a significant act of love and commitment. With about 56.8 million people globally requiring palliative care annually, including 25.7 million in their final year of life, the importance of compassionate care cannot be overstated. Sadly, it remains heartbreakingly inaccessible for many.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that only about 1 in 10 people needing palliative care can access it. This gap in palliative care access, due to limited awareness and insufficient training, often leaves caregivers feeling overwhelmed.
This article is crafted with you in mind. We’ll talk about the five stages of palliative care, your role in each stage, and the support we can offer. By knowing these, you can feel more ready and able to give the support your loved one needs at this critical time.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness. It’s a multidisciplinary approach that aims to improve the quality of life for both patients and their families. Whether it’s managing pain, offering emotional support, or addressing spiritual needs, palliative care is about holistic well-being, not just treating the illness.
Imagine someone you care about is sick and dealing with a lot of harsh symptoms like pain or feeling tired all the time. Palliative care helps manage these symptoms so they can feel better. This type of care is essential because it helps patients enjoy their life more, even when sick. It’s not just focused on curing the illness but on ensuring they’re as happy and comfortable as possible.
Beyond making patients comfortable, early palliative care can also mean patients don’t have to go to the hospital as much, which can be tough for them and their families. This not only helps everyone involved but also means less cost for the health system. So, by starting this special care early, we can make a big difference in making life better for our patients and saving resources, too.
What Are the 5 Stages of Palliative Care?
Palliative care is a journey undertaken with love, empathy, and specialised attention at every step. Here’s a breakdown of these stages to prepare for the journey ahead:
Stage One: The Stable Phase
In the ‘stable’ phase, your loved one’s condition is manageable and under control. This is a time to plan ahead with doctors. The doctor will make a care plan that looks at current symptoms and how to make life as good as possible now and in the future. Basically, this stage is about keeping comfortable and stable with a team that might include nurses, dietitians, and therapists working together.
What to do:
- Stay informed: Understand the current medical condition of your loved one.
- Communication: Keep an open line of communication with the healthcare team.
- Be proactive: Participate in the planning of care and ask questions about symptom management.
How we’ll support you:
- Care Plan Development: We’ll put together a plan focusing on current health and life quality, getting ready for what’s ahead.
- Team Coordination: A team of nurses, dietitians, and therapists may collaborate to ensure comfort and stability.
Stage Two: Navigating Unstability
When symptoms change or new problems come up, patients enter the ‘unstable’ stage. This part is unpredictable and means quick changes in care. Here, the focus is on handling these new health issues and thinking about the emotional and spiritual needs of everyone involved. Counselling and spiritual help can be really useful now.
What to do:
- Monitor Changes: Keep track of any new symptoms or challenges.
- Emotional Support: Be there for your loved one’s emotional and spiritual needs.
- Seek Help: Don’t hesitate to request additional support services, like counselling.
How we’ll support you:
- Responsive Care: We’ll quickly change the care plan to handle new health issues.
- Holistic Approach: Our team will care for the overall well-being, including emotions and spirit, and might bring in counselling services.
Stage Three: The Deteriorating Phase
In the ‘deteriorating’ stage, symptoms get worse and care gets more complicated. This part needs more check-ups and changes in the care plan. Emotional support is really important now, for the patient, their family, and caregivers. Kindness and understanding are just as important as medical treatment.
What to do:
- Prepare for Changes: Be prepared for more medical check-ups and changes in care.
- Emotional Presence: Keep supporting your loved one emotionally.
- Self-Care: Remember to look after your own emotional needs as well.
How we’ll support you:
- Intensive Care Planning: Regular reassessments and modifications to the care plan will address the intensified symptoms and complex needs.
- Emotional and Empathetic Support: Our care team will prioritise compassionate care, ensuring emotional needs are met.
Stage Four: The Terminal Stage
In the ‘terminal’ stage, the focus is on honouring dignity and making sure they’re comfortable in their final days. We choose where to care for them based on what they need and want, focusing on lessening physical pain and giving emotional and spiritual support.
What to do:
- Respect Wishes: Make sure the care and where it happens match what your loved one wants.
- Being There: Spend quality time with your loved one, providing comfort and support.
- Decision Making: Assist in making any final decisions regarding care and comfort measures.
How we’ll support you:
- Dignified Care: We’ll make sure we keep dignity and comfort at the forefront, managing physical discomfort and providing emotional and spiritual support.
Stage Five: Embracing Bereavement
The ‘bereavement’ stage follows the loss of a loved one. It’s a crucial time for families, as they go through grief and loss. We can help with counselling, spiritual advice, or support groups to help with healing emotions.
What to do:
- Grieve Respectfully: Let yourself and your family grieve because it’s a normal part of losing someone.
- Seek Support: Engage in counselling, spiritual guidance, or support groups as needed.
- Remember and Celebrate: Honour the memory of your loved one and celebrate their life.
How we’ll support you:
- Supportive Services: We offer counselling and spiritual advice.
- Ongoing Assistance: We’re here to support your family as you work through grief and start to heal.
Growing Need for Palliative Care in Australia
As Australia witnesses an increase in its ageing population and a rise in noncommunicable diseases, the demand for specialised palliative care is expected to grow significantly. We at Beacon Support understand this challenge.
We put our hearts into palliative care in Australia, using our skills and knowledge at all five crucial stages. Our holistic approach ensures that we cater to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients and their families, no matter the situation’s complexity. Whether it’s about aged care or planning for future care, Beacon Support is here to guide and help.
We have a wide range of services to meet different needs. Even if you don’t have a Home Care Package or NDIS Plan, you can count on our private services to offer a spectrum of options. We make sure everyone gets the care they need.
Palliative Care Support You Can Trust
Understanding the five stages of palliative care in Australia is crucial to giving your loved ones the best support. It’s a path that needs careful thought and smart choices. We provide more information and advice to create a care plan that perfectly fits your loved one’s needs.
Beacon Support is ready to light the way at every step. Contact us to find out more about our palliative care services and how we can support you and your loved ones.
