Palliative care is a specialized care that uses a team approach to improve the quality of life of a patient who is seriously ill. Palliative care supports the patient and his or her family before and after treatment. It addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual needs that arise when a person is very ill.
Palliative Care Services
Palliative care teams serve:
- Patients with chronic illnesses or conditions that affect daily living
- Patients with illnesses that may be successfully treated, but result in a poor quality of life
- Terminally ill patients
- Addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs when a patient is very ill.
- Supporting the patient and family before and after treatment.
What the palliative care team provides:
- Partnership with your physicians
- Relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
- A coordinated approach to addressing physical, emotional and spiritual suffering
- Open discussions about treatment options of your condition and management of symptoms
- Support to improve the quality of your life
- A celebration of life, while also regarding dying as a normal process when that time comes
- Advocacy for you
You may wish to seek palliative care if you or your loved one:
- Suffers from pain or other symptoms due to illness
- Experiences physical, emotional or spiritual suffering that is not under control
- Need help understanding your condition and coordinating your care
Palliative team members may include:
- Palliative care nurse practitioner
- Palliative care physician
- Chaplain
- Social worker
- Any others who might be helpful in improving your care and comfort, such as nurses, care managers, pharmacists, nutritionists, physical or occupational therapists and support staff.
