Palliative Care
Palliative care is a specialized medical care of persons living with serious illnesses like cancer, severe heart, lung, kidney & liver failures, dementia, Parkinson's etc.
These patients have a heavy symptom burden like pain, breathlessness, and many others, from the primary disease and the treatments received. The patients also suffer from the psychological, social and spiritual problems that come from living with terminal illnesses.
Hence in palliative care we address all these concerns of the patient and their families through a holistic approach, providing them comfort and relief and improve their quality of life.
Palliative care is better given at the same time as the treatments to cure or treat the primary disease. So we constantly engage and collaborate with all the concerned specialists and try to integrate our care into their treatments, for better outcomes.
Registered Medical Institution
Age Care Foundation is recognized by the A.P Drug Control Administration to procure, stock and dispense Essential Narcotic Drugs. They include Morphine and Fentanyl which are very helpful in relieving moderate to severe pain experienced by some of the cancer patients.
We deliver our palliative care service as a ‘continuum of care’ from the diagnosis, to the end of life of the patient, through our out-patient clinics, day care, in-patient care, home care, hospice care, 24/7 telephonic support and reach beyond to the families through our bereavement care. We extend quality care through a specially trained, certified, experienced and committed team of palliative care physicians, nurses, counsellors and volunteers.
Out-Patient care
We provide out-patient services on all working days, availed by patients who are on a curative treatment and referred for pain management. We engage with patient family too and follow up the patient in collaboration with the primary specialist.
Day –Care
We extend day care services to patients requiring acute pain management, wound dressing, palliative paracentesis, bladder lavage, constipation dealt with and catheter change. These also serve as respite care for the Caregivers.
In-patient care
We provide in-patient care services for patients who require symptom management stoma care, wound care, lymphedema management, etc. on a long term.
Home-Care
Home Care is provided by a mobile medical team for patients who can be cared for in their own homes. Visits are conducted at weekly, fortnightly or monthly intervals as per the health needs of the patient. At present the team conducts about 120 home care visits every month.
Hospice-Care
We are running the palliative care facility in Gayatri Vidya Parishad Hospital, Madhurawada, Visakhapatnam. We provide terminal care and end of life care, by trained medical teams. The psycho social concerns of patients and families are also addressed through counselling and constant engagement.
Telephone Support
The Palliative care team supports the patients and their families by being available for advice and guidance round the clock on all days including Sundays and Holidays.