Pain & Symptom Management

Everyone experiences pain at different stages throughout their lifetime. It is either short-term (known as acute) or long-term (known as chronic). In the body, pain is a complex array of causes and following consequences, notifying the brain of danger. If the pain is persistent, the brain is notified repeatedly, and in response, the brain creates more sensory points to stay on top of the pain.

Chronic pain, which is often associated with terminal illness and injuries, can change the brain. Over time, the chronic pain can be challenging to treat and may require a specialized treatment plan. For those requiring at-home care, hospice pain management is critical. At Dignity Home Health & Hospice, we offer palliative care, or pain and symptom management services, for patients we serve through hospice and home health care.

Improving Your Loved One's Quality of Life with Pain Management

The main goal of home health or hospice pain and symptom management is to improve the patient's quality of life. Pain management, when performed correctly, can also enhance a patient's mental and physical functions. Without palliative care for chronic pain, patients are limited in what they can do; it can even prevent them from talking or enjoying the company of others. If more severe, it can affect their mood and ability to think, make important decisions, and even sleep. Pain left untreated can even exacerbate health issues such as stress, heart rate, and blood pressure, while negatively affecting the healing process.

Pain and symptom management services ease the suffering of your loved one, allowing them to live a more fulfilling life. Under the care of your skilled nurse from Dignity, you can rest assured that your loved one is as comfortable as possible.

Nurse helping an elderly man to walk with his walker

How Hospice Pain Management Differs from Home Health Pain Management

Hospice care and home health care are services that have different treatments and goals. In both situations, pain management is a service that can be applied depending on the patient's needs and situation. Overall, the goal is the same: to keep the patient comfortable. However, home hospice and home health have different goals and applications for pain management.

Pain Management in Hospice Care

Hospice care is a set of services reserved for patients with a terminal illness who can no longer have curative treatment, or no longer wish to. When palliative care is offered to hospice patients, it is done so an end-of-life pain management strategy. The goal is to keep the patient comfortable and improve their quality of life so they can peacefully live their final days, weeks, or months of life. In order to meet the patient's needs, a variety of pain management services, such as medication, are used to ease the patient's suffering.

Pain Management in Home Health

Home health services provide convenient medical assistance to a patient experiencing an illness or recovering from an injury. Unlike hospice, home health services aim to treat the illness or injury, allowing the patient to recover. Care in the comfort of familiar surroundings helps the patient regain independence, heal, increase self-sufficiency, maintain functionality, and ease discomfort. Pain is often unavoidable during the recovery process from an injury or illness. The goal of pain management in home health is to keep the patient comfortable during the healing process, so the patient can get back to living life as usual. Ideally, pain medication dosage will taper off during the course of home health services.

A nurse holding a pill box talking with an elderly woman

Our Home Health and Hospice Pain Management Services

At Dignity Home Health and Hospice, we offer pain management services to keep patients comfortable and improve their quality of life. We accomplish this service by conducting regular pain assessments with a physician. RNs, certified nurse's aides, and family members are all involved in this process and work together. At Dignity Home Health and Hospice, we keep you informed and involved every step of the way.

Pain Medication Coordination

Medication is usually the primary treatment method for pain and offers a high level of relief. The physician may prescribe different types throughout the treatment to determine what works best for the patient. Common pain medications that are used are anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Depending on the pain's severity and the patient's goal, other pain medications, including lorazepam, morphine, and other opioids, can be used. Medications can be administered in the following ways:

Orally
With injection
Intravenously, also known as an IV
Medicine pump attached to the body

Complimentary Supplements and Medications

We use a variety of pain supplements and medications in conjunction with pain medications. Many times, the combination makes an effective treatment to keep the discomfort under control. Here are some complimentary supplements and medications that we commonly use:

Over-the-Counter Supplements

Some supplements, such as magnesium, can be used supplementary to pain medication as a smooth muscle relaxant and anti-inflammatory. It often helps patients find effective relief when combined with a lower dose of pain medication.

Sleep Assistance

Patients experiencing interrupted sleep from pain or worry are more likely to have higher rates of pain the next day. Sleep medication, supplementation, over-the-counter medicines, exercise, and baths are all elements we can incorporate to help the patient reduce pain.

Oxygen

Oxygen is often used in addition to pain medication to encourage healing throughout the body. It also reduces shortness of breath and lessens the sensation of not being able to get enough air. Patients with supplementary oxygen often feel less tired, sleep better, and are often able to be more active.

Physical Therapy

Patients who suffer from chronic pain often find that physical therapy helps to ease their discomfort and help them feel better. Physical therapists locate and treat areas of pain and stiffness with gentle exercise movements. As the painful areas are treated, the discomfort will disappear. It's beneficial for those who have experienced an injury and need help getting back to independence. Other medical conditions that might benefit from home physical therapy include:

Multiple sclerosis
Parkinson's disease
Post-surgical conditions such as joint replacements
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS)
A post-traumatic event such as a heart attack or fracture
Stroke recovery

When appropriate for the patient, physical therapy is a valuable tool to help improve quality of life, mobility, and independence.

Pain & Symptom Mangement Cost and Medicare Coverage

There can be many questions that arise during the process of setting up home health and hospice services for a loved one. Perhaps the biggest concern is how to pay and if Medicare covers any services. When included as part of the overall service of hospice care, pain management services are covered 100% by Medicare, Med Advantage Plans, Medicaid, and many private insurance plans. Medicare coverage for pain management services used for home health services can vary. To see if you or a loved one qualifies, give us a call or contact us today.

Pain & Symptom Management FAQs

Will the medications have any negative side effects?

The primary goal of pain and symptom management is helping you or your loved one manage their symptoms while minimizing any potential side effects from the medications. Sometimes it can take some tweaking with doses and different types of medications, but your care team will work with your doctors to carefully manage the condition while working to help your loved one feel the best. Health care professionals aim to give the lowest dose possible that takes away discomfort while allowing the patient to do things they find meaningful, such as interacting with loved ones.

Can the medications be self-administered?

How can I benefit from being treated by a palliative doctor as opposed to a regular doctor?

When you enter home health, hospice care, or palliative care, you'll receive treatment from a palliative care doctor. How does this benefit you? Palliative doctors have the expertise and special training in pain management and symptom control. They're also understanding and very knowledgeable about helping families deal with the many burdens of a severe illness, from fears about the future to side effects from medical treatment to caregiver stress and worry. They'll guide you through difficult medical decisions, helping to weigh any pros and cons. Overall, those undergoing home health and hospice treatment report better pain and symptom management and increased family satisfaction. In addition, they're less likely to receive medication they don't need or want.

Will I or my loved one become addicted to strong pain medications?

One of the most significant concerns patients have when addressing pain management is addiction and dependence. These concerns are warranted considering the current discussions on opioids and addiction issues. However, let's take a look at the following:

Patients placed on end-of-life pain management aren't usually receiving medications long enough to develop an addiction.
When beginning pain management services for home health and hospice patients, physicians start on low doses and only increase the prescription if necessary. Increased monitoring of pain symptoms can help you or your loved one from being on more prescriptions than necessary.
Home health patients on strong medications work closely with their physicians to slowly ease themselves off the medication as they continue to heal and gain their independence.

What is my or my loved one's role in managing pain?

The patient plays one of the most significant roles in managing pain. Communication is the most critical element because this allows your team to treat the pain better. A patient's role in managing pain includes:

Communicating to the hospice team about your pain, being as clear and precise as possible.
Letting the care team know about any side effects you are experiencing.
Taking the medications as you are directed. If medication isn't taken on schedule, pain can be harder to control, and the patient might need a higher dose.
Tracking your pain using a log. Keep track of when you feel the pain and how strong it is while noting the medications you took. This will help your hospice team adjust any medications as needed.

Learn More About At-Home Palliative Care and Pain Management

At Dignity Home Health & Hospice, we understand that you may have many questions as you or your loved one transitions through this phase of life. We are here to address any concerns you may have about pain management in palliative care. Perhaps one of the most essential elements of hospice and home care is good pain care. It extends the life of your loved one while keeping them comfortable and improving their quality of life. For the best hospice pain management in Utah, trust Dignity Home Health & Hospice. For a free consultation on how we can help you, call Dignity Home Health & Hospice today, visit one of our offices near you, or simply fill out a contact form.