Palliative care comes from the word “palliate,” which means to “ease the pain or force of (disease) without curing it.” It is a term used to describe the holistic, interdisciplinary approach to the needs of dying persons and their families.
Hospice and palliative care are terms usually associated with end-of-life care. However, palliative care principles may apply in care for those other than the imminently dying. One aspect of pal¬liative care is palliation. Palliation refers to the use of one or more specific (medical) interventions or treatments to bring about the relief of certain symptoms. So, for example, someone experiencing chronic long-term pain but not necessarily suffering from a terminal illness may need or benefit from a palliative approach to help reduce or manage the chronic long-term pain.
Palliative care and end of life
Care at the end of life is important if quality of life is to be maintained.
When we speak of quality of life we are actually looking at a complex area. Here are a couple of the factors that influence quality of life for people with terminal medical conditions.
- When we look at physical and emotional symptoms, we want to be able to manage them so that a person is comfortable in body, mind and spirit.
- When we look at function and autonomy, we want to help people maintain control over their lives and decision-making power.
Adapted from: Family Caregivers' Network Society, Resource Guide for Family Caregivers, 2006.