What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life of clients and their families who are facing the challenges associated with living with a terminal illness. The need for palliative care is likely for all of us at some stage in our lives, whether as a client, carer, family member, neighbour or friend. However, many of us do not understand what palliative care is.

Palliative care is not just about caring for someone during the last few weeks of their life. It is not the service of ‘last resort’, rather it can be introduced from early diagnosis to support families and carers when it’s needed most. Palliative care is an adjunct to ongoing treatment for those with a terminal illness.

Palliative care is about living

Palliative care recognises the special needs of a person who has a terminal illness. The focus is not on curing them but on treating their symptoms, by making them comfortable, helping them to make changes that will make their life easier. People may benefit from palliative care services for weeks, months or even longer.

The philosophy of palliative care recognises that end of life issues impact a whole family and their social network. It also acknowledges that suffering may not only be physical but can be emotional or spiritual as well. Staff and volunteers in palliative care services have special training to work with these issues.

One of the aims of palliative care is to assist and support people to feel in control of their treatment and their quality of life. Palliative care involves family and friends, recognising that they too may need help in coping with illness and the adjustment required to support the one they love during this time. Support to the family is extended through to the bereavement phase to assist with the grieving process if required.

Palliative care can be provided in the person’s own home, at a specialist in-patient hospice unit, or at some other health facility, depending on where the person is living and where they choose to die.

What is a palliative approach?

Palliative care is about quality of life and PHS, as a specialist palliative care service, supports others to take a palliative approach to care. A palliative approach embraces the standards set by Palliative Care Australia. It incorporates a positive and open attitude toward death and dying by all service providers working with clients and their families and respects the wishes of clients in relation to their treatment near the end of life.

This approach is a shift from a ‘cure’ to a ‘live well’ focus and concentrates on maintaining quality of life. Active treatment for the client’s specific illness may remain important and be provided concurrently with a palliative approach. However, the primary goal is to improve the client’s level of comfort and function and to address their psychological, spiritual and social needs.

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