A Helpful Guide to Palliative Wound Care
Palliative wound care is a method of treatment that views patient comfort as a priority. Healthcare workers who provide this type of wound management will cater to the emotional needs of the individual and help mitigate their distress while managing various symptoms. Along with physical healing, palliative care also helps ease the suffering and isolation that many patients feel.
Palliative wound care is a compassionate approach to healthcare, and it entails numerous strategies to provide physical and emotional relief to patients. With this, here is a guide outlining the processes involved in this type of treatment.
1 – Assessing the Patient
Palliative care starts with assessing the patient’s wounds and determining the best course of treatment for them. Many lesions develop due to severe or terminal illnesses, especially in individuals with limited mobility. Ulcers, tumors, friction wounds, skin tears, and surgical wounds are all common conditions that need specialized care, so proper evaluation from the medical team is necessary.
The medical team will have to regularly assess patients and determine their progress and outcome. Some wounds aren’t directly treatable, but their adverse effects can be mitigated. Because of this, palliative care focuses on managing these symptoms and ensuring the patient’s comfort.
2 – Treating the Symptoms
Wounds often entail numerous symptoms, and palliative care involves handling them to improve the patient’s quality of life. Here are some of the adverse effects that palliative treatment attempts to manage:
- Pain
Pain is one of the most common symptoms of severe or terminal illnesses, so it’s crucial to manage it. Although pain medications may provide some relief, some patients require specialized treatment for other medical procedures. Palliative care helps reduce trauma and minimize discomfort during these situations.
- Odors and Exudate
Many patients with chronic illnesses have wounds that produce odors or fluids, both of which can cause discomfort to the individual. Exudate can damage the healthy tissues surrounding the wounds, as these secretions typically contain enzymes that may damage other cells around the injury. Moreover, bacteria may thrive in these humid environments, so adequate treatment is crucial.
Palliative care helps reduce the odors and fluids that seep through the wounds. The healthcare professionals will cover the site with odor-reducing solutions to minimize the smell. They will also put absorbent dressings to manage the exudate, and they have to change them daily or a few times a day.
- Infections
Infections are also common in palliative care patients, so preventing them is a significant part of the treatment. Removing dead tissues and administering antibiotic medications are typical methods of managing infections in wounds.
3 – Ensuring Patient Comfort
More than the physical wounds, many palliative care patients also experience emotional distress and feelings of isolation. They may develop depression and anxiety over their conditions, and medical teams will have to manage these effects as well. The team may involve trained therapists that the patient can talk with, and other staff can also provide companionship and social interaction along with administering treatments.
4 – Preventing Wounds
Treatment isn’t the only important aspect of palliative care—preventing wounds is also a significant part of the process. Medical professionals may have to regularly monitor and assist patients to protect them against further injuries.
Get Palliative Wound Care Services in Morristown, NJ
Dealing with chronic, severe, or terminal illnesses can be a distressing and isolating experience. Because of this, it’s crucial to administer palliative wound care to ensure patient comfort and help them deal with both the physical and emotional impacts of their conditions. We hope this guide was helpful in outlining what this type of healthcare entails.
If you’re looking for palliative care services in Morristown, NJ, let Morristown HC assist you. We provide our patients with dedicated, compassionate, and patient-centered care to dramatically improve their quality of life. Let us help—schedule a personal tour today.