But what about the practicalities?

Palliative care is all about ensuring the highest level of quality of life at its most vulnerable state.

Many times when speaking about quality of life one easily falls into the trap that this means only the soft services, but what about the practicalities?

Wading through the palliative world, either as a patient or accompanying someone, having the practical support to navigate through it all, is what comes first to mind. Thankfully, services do exist.

First and foremost we need to understand what palliative means. A person's condition is deemed to be of a palliative nature when one's illness is either not responding to treatment, has spread or else an irreversible deterioration in one's general condition developed. When this happens the focus shifts on keeping the person comfortable.

Hospice criteria

Secondly, it is important to note the conditions that fall within Hospice criteria locally. Hospice sees to any patient suffering from uncurable cancer; cancer that is stage 3 or 4 with metastasis. Hospice also takes under its wings those that have an organ failure condition; end-of-life heart failure, end-of-life liver failure, end-of-life respiratory failure, end-of-life kidney failure. Persons diagnosed with a motor neurone disease are also eligible. In recent years Hospice has also been catering to patients suffering from end-of-life multiple sclerosis and Creutzfelt Jacob Disease.

Support is available

As a Hospice patient one would benefit from a number of free services that help in a practical manner to support one to remain living within the community. Once registered, a patient and their family are contacted by the Hospice nurse and an appointment is set up during which a care plan is formulated. The scope is to ensure that the professionals anticipate what could occur in the patient's particular journey and prepare the patient and one's family accordingly.

The whole team

Many times, following this assessment the nurse introduces other team members to ensure holistic care is provided.

The medical officers ensure that the appropriate medications are prescribed according to the patient's condition to keep one comfortable. Furthermore, they offer time and an opportunity for deep discussions with the patient and their support network to address any queries present. The physiotherapists' role is to assist the patient to keep one's mobility for as long as possible.

Advice to informal carers is also provided on how best to care for the patient while taking care of themselves physically. Additionally, they also give therapeutic massages to bedbound patients to help keep them comfortable.

Psychologists help provide sessions to deal both with any challenging emotions arising through the journey and the aftermath following the bereavement. The social workers assist the patient and one's family both in any emotional aspect but also to apply for certain benefits.

Bereavement support services are also provided both on a one-to-one basis and in a group setting.

Caring for a loved one at home is no easy task. Support is required. Through the carer respite service, family members may be able to rest or run a few errands per week with their mind at rest that their loved one is being cared for. Through the equipment provided, patients' and carers' lives are eased by having the appropriate aides to live comfortably at home.

Spirituality - the meaning, purpose and connectedness one searches for in life is also a vital aspect in any one person's life. This might have various interpretations and the chaplain is there to assist anyone coming from any background. The need to connect with others is also addressed through the Day Therapy Unit. Eligible patients may attend the morning sessions at Hospice premises, where various activities are prepared. Last but certainly not least, complimentary therapists offer one of the most loved services. Aromatherapy, massages and reflexology give the patients a chance to connect with their body positively.

Ultimately, the goal of these services is to ensure that any person requiring them feels supported, cared for and seen. While Hospice care might sound daunting, it is there to actively support the patient and one's informal support network. Reaching out on time is irrefutably one of the most important steps to ensure that the support is accessed and made use of adequately.

Hospice Malta are full members of Malta Health Network www.maltahealthnetwork.org