A serious illness can be debilitating for not only the sick person, but also for the family in attendance trying to offer support and assistance. With palliative care, expert medical support is provided to improve an ill person's quality of life. This type of support is typically provided by a hospice hospital with physicians, nurses, support staff, and specialists trained in offering this level of assistance for seriously or terminally ill patients. Explore the various services that are included with this assistance. Quality of Life Maintaining quality of life is one of the main goals of palliative care. Regardless of the specific illness, patients often experience marked symptoms, discomfort, pain, problems sleeping, and depression. With assistance, people can become stronger both physically and emotionally. Patients may become better able to tolerate various medical treatments simply because they understand the treatments and feel empowered to make choices. Home or Inpatient Services A hospice hospital might provide either at-home or inpatient services. Many people prefer to remain at home for as long as possible, and these services can make this possible. Staff will visit patients and their families in the home setting, providing medical assistance and support. If a patient's condition worsens, hospital admission may become necessary. Services will coordinate support with a specialized team of professionals who all deliver various treatments. Spiritual Counseling Religious beliefs often play an integral role when someone experiences a serious or terminal illness. Palliative care can provide for specific spiritual needs, providing counseling as needed. Patients can also receive assistance with planning goodbyes and final rituals desired before death. Assistance for Loved Ones Loved ones may struggle significantly during the terminal stages of serious illness. Palliative care can support family members by offering group therapy sessions, individual meetings for answering questions, and daily updates about conditions. Respite assistance is also available to give family members a break from caregiving for the ill person. Physical and Occupational Therapy Specialists are available to help people learn new or better ways to handle tasks. This help may require physical therapy to gain strength or coordination necessary for tasks. The help may also involve occupational therapy that will teach patients new ways to accomplish typical tasks such as dressing and self-feeding. Bereavement Support When the time of loss arrives and the family is left to manage the death, professionals can offer support to get through the mourning phase. Staff members of a hospice hospital are experts in assisting family members through the grieving process. Counselors can visit the bereaved family at home periodically throughout the first year after the death. Staff can also provide telephone contact. Support groups are also available for family. If necessary, professionals can provide referrals for specialized care to assist with the grieving process. When it's time to involve a hospice hospital in treatment, professionals will advise the patient and family of the options available. The overwhelming goal of palliative care is to provide the best quality of life for the ill patient for as long as possible, according to the preference of the patient and family. Residents looking for a hospice hospital in New Orleans trust http://www.stmhospice.org.
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