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When a loved one is put on life support, it can be a very scary thing. You want to be hopeful, but there are so many unknowns. For many, the thought of life support brings images of feeding tubes, ventilators and machines keeping a person alive. And while there are instances when this is the case, there are different forms of life support that not only keep your loved one alive but also improve his or her quality of life until that support is no longer necessary.
So, what is life support?
Simply put, life support replaces or supports a failing bodily function. Whether it is a failing kidney, respiratory or pulmonary-related issues or any combination, there are varying levels and types of support that can be used as a measure to improve and sustain life until the patient can live without it.
How can you help your loved one?
While conditions vary, it is important to be aware that this is a difficult thing for everyone. If your loved one is put on dialysis, needs prolonged mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure or requires feeding tubes or any combination of treatments, if you are able, it is best to discuss things with your loved one and others involved under the guidance of your team of doctors and medical professionals.
Can there be life after life support?
Life support is not always a death sentence. In fact, the goal is to help your loved one get better.
There are many treatable conditions that require life support as a temporary means to sustain life or improve it until the body can resume normal functioning. For instance, some patients are put on life support following surgery only because they're too sick to be recovered from anesthesia right away, while others may have prolonged pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome or other conditions requiring the temporary use of a ventilator.
In instances like these, there is a great likelihood that your loved one can recover and be weaned off life support.
The medical professionals at Utah Valley Specialty Hospital, a long-term acute care hospital, have had numerous patients who have been successfully weaned off of a ventilator. In fact, the hospital was recently named the first in Utah to earn The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Respiratory Failure.
Life support is not a death sentence, and Utah Valley Specialty Hospital has a team of medical professionals who can help you and your loved one get through this challenging time together.
