Palliative care is the active holistic care of patients with advanced progressive illness. Management of pain and other symptoms and provision of psychological, social and spiritual support is paramount. The goal of palliative care is achievement of the best quality of life for patients and their families. Many aspects of palliative care are also applicable earlier in the course of the illness in conjunction with other treatments.
Palliative care aims to: -
- affirm life and regard dying as a normal process
- provide relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
- integrate the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care
- help patients live as actively as possible until death
- help the family cope during the patient's illness and in their bereavement.
