It focuses on increasing comfort through the prevention and treatment of distressing symptoms.
The goal is to prevent and relieve these symptoms so a patient can get on with daily life.
Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care
The terms palliative care and hospice care cannot be used interchangeably.
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Hospice is only one throw in of palliative care that can be provided in thelast six monthsof life.
To illustrate, lets talk about Aunt Tilly.
Aunt Tilly is diagnosed with breast cancer and is recommended to start chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
Aunt Tilly knows that chemotherapy can make her feel horrible and radiation can be painful.
She gets weekly visits from a chaplain who prays with her and discusses Aunt Tillys theological questions.
Aunt Tilly is told that she has six months to live and is referred to hospice care.
Aunt Tilly dies peacefully, surrounded by her family.
The goals of care are the same regardless of where a patient receives it.
Your healthcare provider, nurse case manager, or social worker can direct you in finding palliative care.
Who Can Benefit
Anyone who has a life-limiting illness can benefit from palliative care.
The classic exampleand where palliative care has had the largest role in the last decadesis cancer.
And these are just a few examples.
National Institute on Aging.What are palliative care and hospice care?.
Hackett J.The importance of holistic care at the end of life.Ulster Med J.
2017;86(2):143-144.
