What is Palliative Care

Definition watch video

Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is the medical specialty focused on improving overall quality of life for patients and families facing serious illness. Emphasis is placed on intensive communication, pain and symptom management, and coordination of care.

Palliative care is provided by a team of professionals working together with the primary doctor. It is appropriate at any point in a serious illness and can be provided at the same time as treatment that is meant to cure.

Listen to a Palliative Care Segment on The Diane Rehm Show.

Ensures quality of life

Palliative care is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Patients have a range of diseases and respond differently to treatment options. A key benefit of palliative care is that it looks at the patient as a whole in order to meet the individual needs of each person and family.

Palliative care relieves symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. It helps patients gain the strength to carry on with daily life. It improves their ability to tolerate medical treatments. And it helps them better understand their choices for care.

Palliative care benefits both patients and their families. Along with symptom management, communication and support for the family are key. The team helps patients and families make medical decisions and choose treatments that are in line with their goals.

Different from hospicewatch video

Palliative care is not limited to hospice care. Palliative care may be provided at any time during a person`s illness, even from the time of diagnosis. And, it can take place at the same time as curative treatment.

Hospice always provides palliative care. However, hospice is focused on terminally ill patients—people who no longer seek treatments to cure them.

Provided by a team

Usually a team of experts, including palliative care doctors, nurses and social workers, provides this type of care. Chaplains, massage therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists and others might also be part of the team. Typically, you get non-hospice palliative care in the hospital through a palliative care program. Working in partnership with your primary doctor, the palliative care team provides: