A Live in Caregiver’s Role in Palliative Care

Palliative care is a sensitive issue for everyone involved, but with the right planning and considerations, you can make it easier for yourself, your family, and your loved one. Listen to your loved one’s wishes, and understand that if they wish to die at home, it is possible. The first thing to understand is that palliative care requires a team that involves the family, the doctor, nurses, personal support workers, and often a spiritual advisor and/or therapist as well.

The first question many people have is about timing: “When is it appropriate to begin?” The answer is different in every case, but these are the four major scenarios one should consider:

• All available treatments have been exhausted, and there is no chance that the course of the illness can be changed
• The patient has decided that rather than undergo painful or limiting treatment, they would rather begin with a comfort-based approach
• Palliative services become available because the patient meets certain criteria; however, you will need to investigate local programs and qualifications
• A combined approach, in which patients receive treatment for comfort as they undergo treatment for the disease

Palliative care can be undertaken in a hospital, a residence, or increasingly, at home, thanks to the availability of at home care options like Mavencare home health care services.

One of the biggest differences between palliative care at home and in a hospital is foresight: because doctors are not available at all times, the team has to consider and predict how the patient’s condition will evolve over the next 24 to 48 hours, until the next visit from a physician. They predict the medications and supplies that may be necessary for that time period, and rely on nursing staff and personal support workers to monitor the patient and deliver treatment. A live in caregiver from agencies like Mavencare works both with physicians and families, but their first priority is always their patient.

A reliable, dedicated personal support worker is a foundational part of any team, as they are responsible not only for the patient’s personal hygiene, nutrition, and comfort but also for observing the patient’s pain levels and symptoms. They have to be sensitive to the patient’s changing condition in order to accurately report to physicians so that they, in turn, can make the right decisions about medication and treatment. Whereas some families believe that they can find and hire a PSW on their own, they should be warned that they will have to undertake a thorough background check and take on the responsibilities of being an employer themselves. Enlisting the help of agencies like Mavencare takes this burden off of your shoulders, and they match families with PSWs who are sensitive to your loved one’s cultural and spiritual expectations. Your number one priority is creating a comfortable, dignified environment for your loved one, and that’s something you share with palliative caregivers. You can provide the best possible end-of-life treatment with the help of a professional, compassionate caregiver.