Palliative Care
What is Palliative Care
Palliative care is a holistic approach to care that focuses on providing end-of-life care to patients with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses. A core value of palliative care is ‘the prevention and relief of suffering’.
Palliative care is not solely for individuals that are approaching the end of their life. It is frequently used in conjunction with other treatments. Depending on your needs, you may only spend a short time interacting with these professionals and/or you may move in and out of needing specialist palliative care services.
This support is also extended to family caregivers by the inter-disciplinary team throughout the patient’s journey, and bereavement support after the patient’s death, helps to prevent potential physical and mental ill health resulting from having lost a loved one.
Who can benefit from Palliative Care
Palliative care is available to individuals with a serious, progressive and/or life-limiting illness. This care is available to all patients, regardless of age, diagnosis, or stage of illness.
Where is Palliative Care provided
Palliative care is delivered in hospitals by the Specialist Palliative Care team, and is frequently combined with other therapies and treatments via in-patient and out-patient services. Hospices are frequently referred to as Specialist In-patient Units, and they also provide Day Care (outpatient) and in-home care delivered by home care teams attached to Specialist In-patient Units. Palliative care can also be provided in institutional settings such as nursing homes. Palliative care has the same aim regardless of where the patient receives it.