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Below are some options for care of a loved one with progressive illness. (Links
to StopPain.org.)
Palliative
care focuses on the physical, psychosocial, and spiritual
concerns of patients with life-threatening illnesses at any
phase of their disease.
Some of the biggest concerns for the patient at the end of
life revolve around fears of suffering, loss of dignity, and
causing family members distress. It is important to recognize
that you and your loved one have options that can help make
the end of life less stressful.
Hospice is generally not a specific place--it is a specialized
program of care for patients with a limited life expectancy.
With its comprehensive array of medical and social services,
hospice strives to meet each patient's unique physical, emotional,
social and spiritual needs, as well as those of the patient's
family and close friends. The goals of hospice are to help
the patient have as good a quality of life as possible, and
to assist caregivers in their efforts to keep their loved
ones at home. This includes keeping the patient as comfortable
as possible by relieving pain and other uncomfortable symptoms,
preparing for a death that follows the wishes and needs of
the patient, and reassuring both the patient and family members
by helping them understand and manage the patient's care.
This support assists patients and families through the process
of facing, understanding and preparing for death.
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Caregiving
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