Palliative Care
At Mississauga Health, improving the quality of life for those who can benefit from a palliative approach to care has always been a top priority. We are proud to work alongside a wide range of palliative care providers in the community to deliver care to individuals and their families in our region.
Palliative Care
At Mississauga Health, improving the quality of life for those who can benefit from a palliative approach to care has always been a top priority. We are proud to work alongside a wide range of palliative care providers in the community to deliver care to individuals and their families in our region.
Our Approach to Palliative Care
A palliative approach to care focuses on improving quality of life for people with serious, life-limiting illnesses. Some examples of these illnesses include dementia, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease and cancer. It provides comfort, support, and relief from pain and other symptoms while also addressing emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
Traditionally, palliative care has been associated as a type of care that is provided to an individual who is at the end of their life. However, a palliative approach simply means good care. It is personalized and can be provided at any stage of an illness, alongside other medical treatments. Palliative care is not just provided by specialists and is an approach that can be taken by any provider in any setting, often by an interdisciplinary team.
The Truth About Palliative Care
Explore the truths about palliative care by exploring common myths and learning how this compassionate approach can enhance the quality of life for patients and their families.
Myth: Palliative care is only for when a person is dying.
Fact:
Palliative care can benefit anyone diagnosed with a serious illness that may shorten their life. It can be introduced at the time of diagnosis and provides support to patients and their families throughout the course of the illness, including into bereavement. The focus is on improving comfort, managing symptoms, and offering emotional support, regardless of whether the person is nearing the end of life.
Myth: Palliative care means giving up hope and dying sooner.
A palliative approach means focusing on comfort, pain relief, and emotional support, improving the quality of life for patients at any stage of a serious illness. It is about improving quality of life and living to the fullest.
Myth: Only cancer patients need palliative care.
Palliative care is beneficial for patients with a wide range of serious illnesses, including heart disease, lung disease, kidney failure, neurodegenerative conditions, and more. It focuses on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life, regardless of the diagnosis.
Myth: Palliative care is only about physical symptoms.
While palliative care addresses physical symptoms, it also focuses on emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being. The care team works with patients and families to provide holistic support, addressing the mental and emotional challenges that come with serious illness.
How Palliative Care Helps
-
- Managing pain and symptoms to improve comfort
- Offering emotional, social, and spiritual support
- Providing care at home, in hospices, hospitals, or long-term care homes
- Supporting family members and caregivers
- Understanding your illness, planning for your care and preparing for future needs
- Providing supports to help with coping with loss, grief and bereavement
What is Advance Care Planning (ACP)?
Advance Care Planning (ACP) helps you choose and prepare the person who will make health care decisions for you if you can’t speak for yourself. This person is called your Substitute Decision-Maker (SDM).
ACP is about talking with your SDM and sharing what matters most to you – your values, beliefs, and wishes for future care. It does not mean making medical decisions in advance. Instead, it helps your SDM feel ready to make the best choices for you if needed.
Why is ACP Important?
If you ever become too sick to make your own health care decisions, your SDM will decide for you. Knowing your wishes ahead of time will help them make choices that respect what you want.
When Should You Have ACP Conversations?
The best time to start is now – when you feel well and have time to think about your wishes. If you’re not ready to talk about it yet, that’s okay. A good first step is learning who your SDM would be under the law. Planning ahead can make things easier for you and your loved ones in the future.
To learn more about Advance Care Planning, visitSpeak Up Ontario’s Advance Care Planning Workbook
For Patients and Caregivers:
Learn more about how to access palliative care for you and your loved ones
For Providers:
Explore resources to support you in providing a palliative approach