What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is any form of care that focuses on the reduction of symptoms instead of seeking a cure. The primary objectives of palliative care are to improve the quality of life and relieve suffering. Palliative care is designed to support any other treatment the patient may receive by helping them live as comfortable as possible.
NHPCO’s Standards of Practice for Hospice Programs describes palliative care as treatment that enhances comfort, and improves the quality of the patient’s life. No specific therapy is excluded from consideration. The test of palliative care lies in the agreement between the individual, physician(s), primary caregiver, and the hospice team that the expected outcome is relief from distressing symptoms, the easing of pain, and/or enhancing the quality of life. The decision to intervene with active palliative care is based on an ability to meet stated goals rather than affect the underlying disease. An individual’s needs must continue to be assessed and all treatment options explored and evaluated in the context of the individual’s values and symptoms. The individual’s choices and decisions regarding care are paramount and must be followed.
