Palliative Care
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care aims to make sure you feel supported and comfortable, rather than cure the illness. This type of care is also sometimes called ‘supportive care’.
Palliative care is usually offered to those people diagnosed and living with an incurable, life-limiting illness, you will have treatment and care which focuses on:
- Managing symptoms of your condition
- Offering emotional, spiritual and psychological support
- Offering practical support, including things such as planning for the future or getting equipment
- Aiming to optimise your quality of life
Who may benefit from Palliative Care?
- If your respiratory condition is worsening/ progressing
- If your symptoms are proving difficult to manage with inhaled therapies
- If you are having multiple chest infections and/ or hospital admissions
- If you wish to discuss planning for your future
Managing Symptoms
Shortness of breath
- It can be helpful to use breathing techniques to control your breathing.
- Regular chest clearance can also remove excess sputum from your lungs. It can also be helpful to use various positions of ease and be mindful of your posture.
- Fans can also help as movement of air across your face can help reduce breathlessness.
- Your breathing may be improved by using your medications including inhalers, nebulisers and tablets as prescribed.
- You may consider the use of symptom control medications, one of which is oral morphine which can help to reduce your level of breathlessness. The use of which can be discussed with your GP or local respiratory team.
- The use of oxygen may be required if your levels oxygen within your blood are lower than required. This will be provided by your local respiratory service or may be commenced on discharge from hospital. Oxygen is a prescribed medications and the amount of oxygen provided is carefully assessed and monitored.
Anxiety
- It can be helpful to use breathing techniques to manage your anxiety levels.
- Distraction techniques can also be beneficial in controlling anxiety levels.
- Personal interests or hobbies can help to take your mind off your anxiety.
- You may consider the use of symptom control medications called anxiolytics which can help to reduce your levels of anxiety. The use of which can be discussed with your GP or local respiratory team.
Advance Care Planning
It can be helpful to make decisions regarding your future care needs in advance. This is shown to reduce stress levels and will advise your healthcare team on your preferences moving forward.
- Think – about what is important to you and how you would like to be cared for in future. Who could make decisions for you if you were no longer able?
- Talk – Discuss your thoughts with those closest to you and your healthcare providers.
- Plan – Record you plan and share with those closest to you and your healthcare providers.
What can I do to help myself?
- If you have been given medication you should take this as prescribed by your GP or nurse. It is also important to stay up to date with vaccinations, particularly for flu and pneumonia.
- Be proactive and open about your future needs and think, talk, plan and share your decisions with those closest to you and your healthcare providers.
- Learning about your symptoms will help you to identify any signs of infection if your symptoms worsen. Learning how to clear your airways and practicing these techniques frequently will help you get rid of excess mucus.
- If you are feeling breathless, you may find breathing techniques helpful. Keeping as physically active as you can, eating well and learning how to conserve energy and plan ahead can help to manage breathlessness. You can read more on the Physical Activity page and the Diet and Nutrition web page.
- During cold weather try to stay as warm as possible and keep your nose and mouth covered when you go out. See our Weather Conditions web page.
- If you smoke, you should try to stop and avoid inhaling other people’s smoke. Details about support to give up smoking can be found here. You can find local Stop Smoking services using the service finder too.