6. Palliative Care

What is Palliative Care?

Definition: Palliative care is a specialized medical approach that aims to relieve suffering, manage symptoms, and improve the overall well-being of patients facing serious illnesses, such as cancer, heart disease, or chronic lung conditions.

Care for All: It’s important to know that palliative care is not just for patients at the end of life. It can be provided at any stage of an illness and alongside curative treatments.

Key Goals of Palliative Care

1. Symptom Management: Palliative care focuses on relieving distressing symptoms such as:

- Pain

- Nausea

- Fatigue

- Difficulty breathing

- Anxiety and depression

2. Emotional and Psychological Support: Chronic illness can take a toll on your mental and emotional health. Palliative care includes support from trained professionals who can help patients and families cope with the emotional aspects of illness.

3. Improving Quality of Life: The primary aim of palliative care is to enhance your quality of life, helping you engage in daily activities and maintain as much independence as possible.

4. Support for Families: Palliative care also focuses on the needs of family members, providing them with guidance, support, and respite. This helps them cope with the challenges associated with caring for a loved one with a serious illness.

How is Palliative Care Delivered?

1. Interdisciplinary Team: Palliative care is provided by a team of healthcare professionals, including:

- Doctors

- Nurses

- Social workers

- Psychologists or counselors

- Nutritionists

2. Personalised Care Plans: The team will work with you to create a personalized care plan that addresses your individual symptoms, preferences, and goals. This plan can evolve as your needs change.

3. Coordination of Care: Palliative care teams often help coordinate your overall treatment, making sure that all healthcare providers are on the same page. This can improve communication and streamline care.

Accessing Palliative Care

• Where to Find It: You can access palliative care in hospitals, outpatient clinics, or even at home. It’s important to ask your healthcare provider about palliative care options available in your area.

• When to Start: You can begin receiving palliative care at any point during your illness, whether you are still seeking curative treatment or focusing solely on comfort.

Myths About Palliative Care

Myth 1: Palliative care is only for people at the end of life.

Fact: Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatments at any illness stage. People can be under the palliative care team for several years.

Myth 2: Choosing palliative care means giving up hope.

Fact: Palliative care is about improving quality of life and managing symptoms while still pursuing treatment options that may extend life.

Conclusion

Palliative care plays a crucial role in the journey of patients with serious illnesses, focusing on what matters most: your well-being and comfort. Palliative care is not just there for imminent end of life treatment, it is a support service to help you live as well as possible (symptom control) for as long as possible. The service can be empowering and help you regain control during a very difficult time. If you or a loved one is facing health challenges, consider talking to your healthcare team about the benefits of palliative care.

Additional Resources

• We have a number of podcast interviews with Voices sharing their positive experience of palliative care. Visit our Scars of Gold section to find stories of real lived experience with palliative care. This can help reduce some of the fear and stigma.

• Macmillan Cancer Support: www.macmillan.org.uk

• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE): www.nice.org.uk

• Palliative Care Core Skills Educational Framework: www.skillsforcare.org.uk

Remember, you are not alone. There are many resources and professionals ready to support you and your family through every step of this journey.