Top Indications Your Loved One in Nashville Might Need Palliative Care

Witnessing your loved one battle a life-threatening disease is one of the toughest things you can endure in life. If he’s fighting cancer, heart failure, COPD, or some other debilitating disease, chances are you’re asking yourself repeatedly, “Can we receive any more support than this?” The response might be palliative care.

Palliative medicine is specialty medical care aimed at optimizing quality of life in patients with serious illness. It is directed toward the alleviation of pain, stress, and other distressing symptoms—diagnosis and stage of disease irrelevant.

When you are in Nashville and contemplating whether palliative care can be the best option for your loved one, this guide will guide you to understand the warning signs and make the optimal decision. For patient-centered and empathetic care, most families seek the professional expertise and individualized care of Iris Medical Group in Nashville.

1. Frequent Hospitalizations or Visits to the Emergency Room

Recurrent hospitalization is one of the strongest signals your loved one can avail themselves of palliative care. If they’re on the verge of becoming a serial ER visitor or are being readmitted to the hospital because of complications, it’s time to consider other care better suited to symptom control at home or in an institution.

Palliative medicine doctors can prevent hospitalization for pain, medication, and overall health issues by being proactive about it in an interdisciplinary fashion.

2. Loss of Daily Functioning

Has the loved one ceased to do something they enjoyed or had difficulty with routine activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, or eating? Physical loss of function, particularly when this involves chronic illness, is a cry that disease is weighing on their body. It’s invading their quality of life.

Palliative care intervenes on the physical and emotional changes, making your loved one comfortable and dignified in everyday life.

3. Uncontrolled Symptoms or Pain

Pain, exhaustion, shortness of breath, sickness, or fear are not things anyone should have to endure unnecessarily. But all of them are far too frequent, ordinary challenges for individuals with chronic or potentially fatal illness. If medicine does not appear adequate—or side effects get out of hand—this is an ominous sign something special needs to be done.

Our palliative care team at Iris Medical Group collaborates with patients and families within the Nashville community to set individualized care plans that center on comfort and quality of life.

4. Diagnosis of a Serious or Life-Limiting Illness

No matter if your loved one has just been diagnosed or further along in the progression of an illness like cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, or organ failure, the sooner palliative care can be initiated, the difference can be life and death.

Palliative care is compatible with curative treatment, and not necessarily synonymous with end-of-life care. To the contrary, research has demonstrated that early integration of palliative care enhances survival and quality of life.

5. Emotional or Psychological Distress

Chronic illness also impacts not just the body. Depression, anxiety, fear, and loneliness are remarkably prevalent—and most frequently unmonitored and untreated.

If your loved one is withdrawn, angry, or emotionally distressed, palliative care teams are of invaluable help. They are usually composed of counselors, social workers, and chaplains who deal with the patient’s spiritual and emotional status and mental status of family caregivers.

6. Burned-Out Family Caregivers

Caregiving can be physically and emotionally exhausting. If you, your other caregivers, are burnout, tired, or emotion-maxed, then all of you require additional support.

Not only is palliative care available to the patient, but also it supports, educates, and helps families with caregiving challenges.

7. You’re Unsure About Treatment Options or Plans

When difficult choices are to be made—like whether or not to undergo aggressive treatment, hospice, or comfort measures—palliative care teams facilitate those conversations. They ensure the care is based on the patient’s values, preferences, and lifestyle.

This collaboration entails that medical decisions are respectful, well-informed, and patient-centered regarding what matters most to the patient.

Compassionate Palliative Care in Nashville

Palliative care decision-making on whether or not your loved one will be better off with it is where the journey of improving their overall well-being starts. Regardless of what of the medical subtleties, or simply more comfort and clarity, their life is being saved these days, palliative care provides a further sense of security in the milestone moments of life.

We offer gentle, holistic palliative care services with the dignity of the entire person—not the disease. Our caring caregivers work in partnership with patients and families to bring dignity, comfort, and companionship to each step of the process.

Final Thoughts

The signs are always subtle initially, but recognizing when and how to look for palliative care can literally be the difference of a lifetime in your loved one’s fight against cancer. When you notice some of the above indicators, do something and seek advice. You do not have to do it by yourself—and you do not need to do it by yourself either.