What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is a way to improve quality of life for a patient who is being treated for a serious illness. It is a type of medical specialty. To palliate means to ease the symptoms of an illness. Palliative care providers are experts in easing symptoms that cause distress. These may include pain, nausea, anxiety, and breathing problems. And patients and their loved ones are given emotional and spiritual support. Palliative care is given at the same time as regular medical care. Active treatment for the illness does not stop. This sheet tells you about palliative care and how it may help you or your loved one. 

Goals of Palliative Care

Palliative care gives a patient comfort while an illness is being actively treated. And it helps the patient and their loved ones cope with the illness and its effects. The goals of this care include:

• Easing of symptoms that cause distress. The main goal of palliative care is to ease symptoms. These may include pain, anxiety, nausea, or breathing problems, and more. They may affect a person’s ability to eat, be active, or spend time with others. Medications and other methods are used. This gives a patient a better quality of life while the illness is being treated.

• Coordinating care. This helps ensure that each care provider is aware of the goals of care. Communication is done on a regular basis among all team members to ensure that the care goals are met.

• Meeting emotional and spiritual needs. The care team helps both the patient and family cope with stress, depression, anxiety, and other issues. They can set up meetings with a counselor or spiritual advisor as desired.

• Giving information and helping with decisions. Care providers can help a patient and their family get the information they need. They can also help when care decisions need to be made.

• Helping create an advance care plan. This is a series of legal documents that note a person’s wishes for their future health care. It helps ensure that if someone can’t speak for themselves, their wishes can still be carried out. The documents vary by state.

Working with Your Palliative Care Team

Palliative care is given by a team of people. The team deals with physical and emotional needs. The team may include a palliative care doctor or nurse, social worker, pharmacist, dietitian, counselor, spiritual advisor, and others. To get the most of palliative care, both the patient and loved ones have a role.

What a patient can do

To ensure the best care, learn what you can about your illness and the goals of your care. If you have pain or other symptoms, tell your care providers. Treating these symptoms is best for your health and quality of life. If you need support in other ways, speak up. The care team is there to help you get what you need.

What a family member can do

Talk with the palliative care team often. Do your best to understand your loved one’s illness and goals of care. When decisions need to be made, act on your loved one’s wishes. And if you have a concern or question, speak up. You can help the team ensure that your loved one has the best quality of life possible.