Palliative care is an important part of a medical team that helps to manage diseases and improve the quality of life for both the patient and the family. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. It is focused on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness – whatever the diagnosis.
While palliative care is not intended to cure the illness itself, it is for people with complex illnesses that are seeking aggressive, curative medical treatment but need additional support, symptom management and chronic disease education. It is not meant to replace other treatments and is commonly provided alongside curative treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
It is not a single person who provides the care, it is a team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who provide an extra layer of support. Palliative care is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness. They can arrange other services such as music therapy, order pain medications, and palliative care and may assist you to establish your wishes in legally acceptable ways, such as a Living Will.
Palliative care is different from hospice in that there are no restrictions on eligibility regarding life expectancy or continuation of aggressive medical treatment.
This article reviewed by Dr. Jim Liu, MD and Ms. Deb Dooley, APRN.
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