Palliative Care
Palliative care is a type of specialized medical care focused on improving the quality of life for people with serious illnesses, such as cancer, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The goal of palliative care is to relieve pain and other symptoms, as well as provide emotional, social, and spiritual support for patients and their families.
Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness and can be provided alongside curative treatments. It is typically provided by a team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, social workers, and chaplains, who work together to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient.
In addition to managing pain and other symptoms, palliative care may also involve helping patients and their families make decisions about their care, managing side effects of treatments, and providing support for end-of-life care. Palliative care can be provided in hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, or in a patient's home, depending on their needs and preferences.