What is Palliative Care

Palliative care is a specific medical care service offered at our senior residence, The Shores in Cape May County New Jersey. Here is some insight into what this service entails and how it works, from our team.

What is Palliative Care? 

Palliative care is a set of medical services designed to improve the quality of life for residents with serious illnesses and their families. It identifies, assesses, and treats symptoms. These health conditions may include any stage of cancer, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and more. It is appropriate at any age and can occur alongside curative treatment.

In palliative care, a team of doctors, nurses, therapists and other relevant health practitioners address the needs of residents and their families offering psychosocial and spiritual support, as well as bereavement counselling, if indicated. This focus may also positively influence the course of illness.

The team customizes care plans for residents’ specific needs, which could include loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, anxiety, depression, and difficulty sleeping. The prescribed treatment and therapies aim to prolong life. People also call palliative care, comfort care, supportive care, and symptom management.

In order to deliver the most benefit, the team takes time getting to know each resident’s specific needs and concerns. They communicate often with each other, the resident, and loved ones to ensure thorough monitoring and efficient follow-up.

Palliative care is important because curative treatments for serious illnesses are sometimes taxing on the residents. Professional assistance can make a big difference in managing any side effects. Starting a palliative care program upon diagnosis of a serious illness benefits residents and helps ensure a better quality of life.

What is the Difference Between Hospice Care and Palliative Care?

The Shores in Cape May County provides both palliative and hospice care services. While both palliative and hospice care provides comfort, these services are very different.

Palliative care can begin at diagnosis, and continue at the same time as the treatment designed to cure the disease or health condition. It offers a support system to help people live as actively as possible.

Hospice care begins only after curative treatment brings no further improvement. Hospice starts when a medical professional determines that the person is not going to survive beyond six months.

Customized Palliative Care at the Jersey Shore

The Shores, a part of the United Methodist Communities in New Jersey, provides dedicated palliative and hospice care through Bridges, located in an assisted living neighborhood. Trained and experienced professionals in medical, emotional, and spiritual care bring UMC’s compassionate approach to the treatment of medically challenged seniors. Our program focuses on creating a nurturing and comforting environment for residents and their loved ones through customized care programs and support.

If you choose our Bridges neighborhood for your palliative care needs, loved ones are encouraged to bring plenty of home comforts along with them. At The Shores, we offer many amenities for residents and families, including linens, Wi-Fi, 24/7 food availability, dining rooms, café, outdoor courtyards, life enrichment programs, beauty/barber salon, music room, and much more. Most importantly, we recognize that we are caring for families, as much as for the palliative care residents in our community.

To find out more about our hospice in Cape May County, please visit our website at https://umcommunities.org/theshores/hospice-care-nj/ or contact us today and organize your visit.