The difference between Palliative Care and Long-Term Care - 2024 08 10
Yesterday the Palliative Care Nurse came to visit. Mom's benchmark indicators for her overall health had recently shown non-reversible signs of decline: acute pain in her knee and general overall weakness meant she needed more help with getting dressed, standing and walking; she would spend an entire 24 hour cycle in bed gathering her strength; she was sleeping more; her appetite had diminished significantly. The Palliative Care Nurse came to visit to discuss her assessment of Mom's current state of health, and how we can prepare for what is coming next. Mom is adamant that she wants to let 'nature take its course' and pass away at home. Within the first month of Mom moving back home, after aging out of mental health group housing (40 year residency), she was put on the Palliative Care Registry. This was in November, 2021. I had taken on the role of Primary Caregiver, we had made space for Mom to live with us in our home. She was in the middle of a COPD exacerbation ...