September 11^th – 17^th marks Palliative Care Week, the aim of which is to raise awareness of this form of care and to educate the public of the benefits of palliative care. Palliative care is holistic care that focuses on relieving symptoms that may arise when you have a serious condition, regardless of age, diagnosis, or stage of illness. This type of care aims to improve the quality of life of people living with life-limiting conditions, and their families.

Palliative care, when delivered well, integrates spiritual and psychological aspects of care, offers a support system to help significant others cope with their bereavement and uses a team approach to address the individual needs of the patient.

There are different types of palliative care available, depending on the person’s needs.

You may be given palliative care in:

• Your own home, by home-care nurses working with your family doctor and a specialist palliative care team if needed
• A hospice, which is a specialist palliative care unit
• A general hospital by a specialist palliative care team
• A community hospital or nursing home, by home-care nurses working with your family doctor and specialist palliative care teams if needed

The theme of this years Palliative Care Week is ‘Living as Well as Possible’.

What is Our Aim when providing Palliative Care?

Communicares Palliative Care Team aim to improve the quality of life of a person with a life-limiting illness. We would create a care plan that would be tailored to the needs of the person. This would include the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of the person and their families, providing both physical and practical supports.

Our team will treat you or your loved one with sensitivity and gentleness, facilitating as much comfort as possible at a difficult time, and preserving as much independence for you as possible.

Palliative care can be introduced for a person at any age or stage of a life-limiting condition. There is a misconception that palliative care should only be used at the later stage of an illness, however there are benefits to starting care at earlier stages to provide the individual with ongoing support.

Communicare offers palliative care to people of all ages, in their own home.

For more information on our palliative care services, please call 018338000 or email info@communicare.ie