Palliative and Supportive Care is the medical care given to patients who have a serious illness and are not expected to get better. Palliative care focuses on providing relief from pain, stress and other symptoms. Supportive care helps people with serious illnesses cope with their illness, such as by helping them adapt to a treatment regimen that can prolong life but may not cure it.

What is Palliative and Supportive Care?

Palliative and supportive care is a type of health care that helps people live as comfortably as possible during the last stages of life. It focuses on providing relief from pain and other distressing symptoms, such as shortness of breath or nausea.

Palliative care specialists work closely with patients and their families to understand their goals and expectations for treatment. They also pay close attention to what treatments are working well, so they can continue them when possible; when treatment no longer makes sense, they help you make decisions about your future care options.

The goal of palliative care is to improve your quality of life, not to extend it. It does this by providing support for both physical and emotional symptoms that can have a negative impact on your ability to enjoy life.

How does it makes a difference?

Palliative care focuses on the physical, psychological and social needs of patients. It aims to relieve pain, improve symptoms and side effects. Palliative care also helps with loss and grief so that people can die more peacefully.

            

It is important for people to know that palliative care is not just for the end of life but can be provided at any stage. All healthcare professionals should have an understanding of palliative care and how it works, so they can help their patients receive the best care possible.

Palliative care can help people at any stage of their illness and is an important part of healthcare. It is not just for the end-of-life, but can be provided at any stage. All healthcare professionals should have an understanding of palliative care and how it works, so they can help their patients receive the best care possible.

How to find Palliative and Supportive Care services?

To find palliative and supportive care services, you can contact your doctor or other health professional. You may also want to check with:

  • Your local hospice. Hospices are places where people who are terminally ill go to be cared for by a staff of doctors, nurses and volunteers.
  • Your local hospital. Some hospitals offer palliative care services as part of their programs while others refer patients to hospices or home health agencies when they do not have the capacity themselves to provide this type of service.
  • Your local council. Some councils provide community-based palliative care services in their area as well as information about where else you might be able to access these types of services locally

Conclusion

Palliative and Supportive care is an important part of managing your health. It helps you to live with your illness, improve quality of life and make decisions about care. The more you know about palliative care services, the better able you will be to take advantage of them when needed.