The benefits of palliative care are widely known, but the term is often misunderstood. Palliative care is a specialized branch of medicine that helps people with life-threatening illnesses cope with the physical, emotional, social and spiritual challenges they face.
It’s important to understand what palliative care can do for you and your family members if you or someone close to you has a serious illness that may not be curable.
Who needs palliative care?
Palliative care is for people with life-limiting illnesses. But it's not just for the end of life. It can help anyone who has a serious illness, regardless of age or diagnosis.
Palliative care can be given at any time during your treatment, even if you are still receiving curative treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy (known as "active" palliative care). This means that while some patients will receive only palliative treatment, others may also receive active treatment intended to cure their disease (known as "complementary" palliative care).
How do I get palliative care?
The first thing to do is talk to your doctor, who may be able to refer you to a palliative care team. If your doctor is unable to help, ask them for a referral list of health professionals who specialize in palliative care.
You should also consider asking:
- Your family doctor
- Your nurse (if you have one) or any other medical staff that work with you regularly at home or the hospital
- A social worker from your local hospice service or hospital may be able to provide information about what services are available locally as well as direct you towards community resources such as support groups and volunteer opportunities
What does palliative care involve?
Palliative care is a type of healthcare that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of serious illness. It can be given in any type of setting--a hospital, nursing home or your own home. Palliative care is not just for people with cancer; it can also help those with other serious illnesses such as heart disease, neurological disorders and organ failure.
It focuses on relieving suffering and improving quality of life, rather than just treating the disease itself. The goal is to help patients feel better in all aspects of their lives, not just physically.
Can everyone benefit from palliative care at some stage in their illness?
Not everyone can benefit from palliative care at some stage in their illness. It's important to remember that palliative care is for anyone with a serious illness, regardless of age or prognosis.
A patient may be referred to a palliative care team if they have any one of the following:
- An advanced disease that has been given a poor prognosis by their doctor (for example, cancer or dementia)
- Symptoms that are not being adequately managed by conventional medicine and interventions (for example, pain)
Conclusion
Palliative care is a special type of care that focuses on improving the quality of life for someone who is dying or has a serious illness. It can help people with cancer and other chronic diseases live longer, better lives by relieving their symptoms and stress so they can focus on what's most important: spending time with friends and family.
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