When your loved one receives a terminal diagnosis, it can feel as if time has stopped while the rest of the world carries on around you. 

For many, a terminal condition will lead to the need for palliative care. However, when you’ve just received the news, it’s hard to make sense of the steps that come next. We know not much can be of comfort at this time, but we’re here to help where we can. 

So, if your loved one has just been put on palliative care or may be in the future, we’ve broken down the five stages to make sure you know what to expect. 

We’re here for you. Let’s take a look at the stages of palliative care together. 

Stage 1: A Personalised Care Plan is Created

When a person is put on palliative care, the very first step is to create a personalised care plan for them. 

A care plan is designed to provide your loved one with the best possible care for their diagnosis. It takes into account several aspects of their health, such as pain relief, symptom management, emotional well-being, and any personal wishes they may have, too. 

Additionally, this stage of palliative care keeps the patient, doctors, nurses, and family on the same page. They’ll typically talk you through the plan, so you’re aware of what’s happening.

In most cases, your loved one will have their own dedicated care team who stays by their side throughout the whole process, with new additions as and when their condition changes. 

At this Stage, You Can Ask: 

-Can my loved one have palliative care at home?

-Does this mean they’re on end-of-life care?

-Who do I speak to if I have questions about their care?

-How many people will be involved in their care? Who are they?

Stage 2: Your Loved One is Looked After

Being put on palliative care is difficult to process for both the person involved and their loved ones. As such, one of the most crucial aspects of the stages of palliative care is to provide emotional support. 

If they can, now is the time for the individual to share their wishes for the present and future of their care. For example, they may feel comfort in discussing the unknowns with a religious representative from their faith. 

Both traditional and holistic therapies can be made available from the NHS, as well – music therapy, meditation, or even Reiki.  

While time alone can help ease strong emotions, e.g., anxiety or fear, as well as help people process feelings, it’s just as important for them to feel supported by others. Their care team will be available whenever they need to answer questions, talk through their worries, or even simply have a chat. 

At this Stage, You Can Ask: 

-Can you let me know of any support groups for families of loved ones on palliative care?

-Is my loved one comfortable? Can I do anything to support this?

-Should I still speak to my loved one, even if it seems they can’t hear me?

-How should I talk about dying with children in my family?

Stage 3: We Support Their Independence

While people on palliative care have carers and medical professionals to assist them, it’s important for their well-being that we try to maintain a sense of independence where possible.

One of the best ways we can do this is to bring in specialist equipment to help support independence with physical movement. For example, adjustable beds can make sitting up or even getting out of bed a bit easier for people with mobility issues.

Other specialist equipment could include grab rails to support movement, oxygen masks or nebulisers to aid better breathing, or walk-in, sit-down showers to make cleaning easier. 

At this Stage, You Can Ask: 

-What happens if symptoms change? Will their care adapt to this?

-How can I support them to do things independently? 

-How can I tell if they’re comfortable?

-How can I help the care team personalise their care to my loved one?

Stage 4: End-of-Life Care Starts

The next stage of palliative care is where end-of-life care begins. This moment can feel incredibly overwhelming for the person involved and their loved ones. So, let’s go through what you can expect together. 

For those who have been in hospital for the previous stages of palliative care, it’s usually around this stage that a move to a hospice will be considered. 

Hospice teams are experts in handling end-of-life care with the sensitivity all involved deserve. They provide exceptional care to keep your loved one comfortable during their final stages. Plus, they offer emotional support to family and friends, too. 

At this stage of palliative care, we know it can feel like so much is out of your control, making a difficult time feel even harder. However, there are ways you can support your loved one: 

• If there is a hospice in the area where your loved one lives or grew up, you can request that they be moved here if there is space available. 
• They’ll likely have their own room in the hospice, which you can personalise for them – family photos, concert posters, their favourite flowers. 
• Let the care team know what music, books, or movies your loved one likes, so they can play or read them.

You’ll typically be given a phone number to get in touch with the care team, available to contact 24/7 to keep you informed every step of the way. If you have any questions or simply want to check in on them, all you have to do is pick up the phone. 

At this Stage, You Can Ask: 

-What decisions still need to be made with their care?

-What can be done to keep them as comfortable as possible?

-How long do they have left?

-What should I expect from this stage?

-When can I visit my loved one? 

Stage 5: We’re Here for You

One of the trickiest stages of palliative care is knowing when the end is coming and knowing what to do when it does – the hospice team is there to help every step of the way. 

Hospice care teams look after your loved one around the clock, meaning whether it’s night or day, they’ll be able to get in touch with you to let you know it’s time. 

While most hospices will have visiting hours, when those final moments approach, you’ll be able to join your loved one no matter what time it is. Being by their side can provide great comfort for both them and you, too. 

When the final stage of palliative care comes to an end, it doesn’t mean you’re simply left to deal with the aftermath. In fact, care teams will often extend support for up to 12 months. 

Handling grief can feel overwhelming and is a very personal journey. However, you’ll likely be offered bereavement services as part of this extended support, helping you process the loss in a way that works for you. 

At this Stage, You Can Ask: 

-What support is available to my family? 

-How do I begin to arrange a funeral?

-How much notice will I get when the end is near?

-What happens with their personal items?

What is Palliative Care? 

Palliative care is a specialised medical service for those diagnosed with serious illnesses or following an injury, such as a stroke, brain damage, or spinal cord injury.

The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for the individual. To do this, it focuses on providing pain relief, reducing stress, and keeping the patient as comfortable as possible. 

Who Delivers Palliative Care?

Palliative care is overseen by a team of medical professionals, social workers, and specialists who work alongside their main doctor, ensuring layered and personalised support. 

Depending on the stage of palliative care, there will be different people responsible for delivering it. For example, in the early stages, it may be their GP or a community nurse. As symptoms worsen, care is usually passed on to a specialist hospice team. 

Along the way, they may also receive support from social services, care home teams, or therapists – physiotherapists, occupational therapists, or speech and language therapists. 

Can I Get Palliative Care at Home?

Yes, you can absolutely get palliative care at home. Your loved one will receive the same level of care as inpatients do, just from the comfort of their own home. 

Palliative care at home services provide your loved one with bespoke care to keep them comfortable. Plans are tailored to their specific needs by their team, with family involvement welcome to help make their care as personal as possible. 

Typically, they’ll have a regular care team of two nurses or carers who come to see them every day, assisting with aspects of their care, such as:

• Washing or bathing
• Getting in and out of bed
• Continence support
• Meal preparation
• Companionship
• General wellbeing 

For those with more complex needs, overnight support is also available with palliative care at home.

Enquire About CQC-Qualified Palliative Care at Home with Mountbatton 

If your loved one has recently suffered a traumatic injury or been diagnosed with a terminal condition, we offer compassionate palliative care at home services. 

Here at Mountbatton Care, we’ve been looking after people with complex care needs for over 20 years. As a family-run agency, we know the importance of making sure your loved ones are comfortable in their time of need – we keep that at the core of all our services. 

Get in touch with us today to discuss our palliative home care services. You can reach us via phone on 0151 920 5797 for our Liverpool branch or 01704 231 231. Alternatively, fill out our contact form below, and we’ll give you a call.