Key aspects of palliative care:
Symptom Management:Palliative care aims to alleviate symptoms like pain, fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, and loss of appetite.
Quality of Life:It focuses on improving the overall quality of life for both the patient and their family, addressing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs.
Integration with Treatment:Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer, or it can be the primary focus of care when treatment is no longer an option.
Timing:Palliative care can be initiated at diagnosis and continued throughout an illness, even if the patient is expected to live for many years.
Focus on Patient Goals:Palliative care focuses on the patient's individual goals and preferences, enabling them to live as fully and comfortably as possible.
Who can benefit from palliative care?
People with serious illnesses like cancer, heart failure, lung disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer's disease, and others.
Individuals of any age, from children to older adults.
People at any stage of their illness, including those receiving active treatment or those who are no longer seeking curative therapies.
How is palliative care different from hospice care?
Hospice care. is a type of palliative care specifically for individuals with a limited life expectancy (typically six months or less) who have chosen to focus on comfort and quality of life rather than curative treatments.
Palliative care. can be provided at any stage of a serious illness, and it can be combined with curative treatments, while hospice care is focused on end-of-life care.
Where can you find palliative care?
Hospitals, Specialized palliative care clinics or centers, Nursing homes, and patients' homes.
Resources for more information:
GetPalliativeCare.org is an excellent resource for finding information about palliative care and locating providers in your area. Get Palliative Care.
MedlinePlus offers detailed information about palliative care, MedlinePlus (.gov).
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information on palliative care from a global perspective, World Health Organization (WHO).
The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) offers resources for clinicians and healthcare professionals, Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC).