Palliative Care
I am a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner. Absolutely everyone asks me what that is. Officially, it is not a new concept, it’s been around for decades, but the philosophy is gaining steam in the medical world. The definition of palliation is to make a disease or its symptoms less severe or unpleasant without removing the cause; to allay or moderate. Synonyms are: alleviate, ease, relieve, soothe, take the edge off, assuage, soften, lessen, abate. The goal for most clinicians is to make things better, and often that is interpreted as we need to “fix it”. Unfortunately, we can’t fix everything, especially once a serious disease takes it’s toll over time. People who live with chronic, serious diseases have learned to understand their disease can’t be fixed, so what they need from the medical community is honesty, compassion, attention to the big picture, and to make things a little better in the here and now. That is what a Palliative care team provides. We spend time looking at what makes the person who they are outside of their illness, what brings them joy and quality of life. We incorporate the family, emotions, spirituality, mental health, culture, and physical symptoms and come up with a plan to make life a little easier. There is palliative care in hospitals, in the outpatient setting, and my job is in the home. I make “house call” consultations in the comfort of people’s homes, the most intimate and personal way to provide care.
The second biggest question I get from people is: what is the difference between palliative care and hospice. The philosophies are very similiar, to bring comfort. The biggest difference is that in palliative care, you can continue to seek treatments, be followed for years as you navigate your serious illness. With hospice, the patient and family have wrapped their minds around the difficult reality that the disease is truly terminal and most likely within the last 6 months of life. The care is focused on comfort and all aggressive treatments are stopped.
This work is deeply fulfilling. It is an honor to be invited into someone’s home and become part of their journey as they walk through the difficulties a chronic, serious illness brings. Each day I experience raw honesty, sadness, hope, pain, relief, smiles, tears, laughter, frustration; fear, anxiety, humor, sometimes all in one visit. Vulnerability brings out the genuine in all of us and it is a beautiful gift to witness. With the grace of God, I hope I am able to bring some physical, mental, and spiritual relief, and that the patient and family do not feel they are alone.
