by Jessica Vickerson, FNP, MSW
Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is specialized medical care for people with serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.
Palliative care is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness, and it can be provided along with curative treatment.
Often, Palliative Care is thought to be intended exclusively for people living with life-threatening cancer diagnoses or for those who are at the very end of life. However, Palliative Care’s key components provide essential support for those living with serious neurological conditions as well. These include the assessment and treatment of physical and psychological symptoms, identification of support for spiritual distress, expert communication to establish goals of care, and assistance with complex medical decision-making. For example, in the absence of any curative treatment, the management of Parkinson’s disease remains largely palliative despite the huge advances that have been made in medical knowledge. The principles of palliative care should be applied throughout the course of the disease and not limited to the terminal end-of-life period. Palliative care experts can support patients and families with navigating the disease, identifying ways to maximize quality of life despite advancing symptoms, and supporting them with advance care planning.
Interested in learning more? Talk with your provider about how to access Palliative Care support. More information regarding Palliative Care can be found at: www.getpalliativecare.org
References
Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (A.S.K., R.S.M.), and the National Palliative Care Research Center (R.S.M.), New York, and the James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx (A.S.K., R.S.M.) — both in New York.
Kelly, A.S., M.D, M.S.H.S and Morrison, R. Sean, M.D. Palliative Care for the Seriously Ill. N Engl J Med 2015; 373:747-755August 20, 2015DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1404684
National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions (UK). Parkinson’s Disease: National Clinical Guideline for Diagnosis and Management in Primary and Secondary Care. NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 35. London: Royal College of Physicians (UK); 2006.
National Coalition for Hospice and Palliative Care. The National Consensus Project Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care, 3rd edition (2013). http://www.nationalcoalitionhpc.org/ncp-guidelines-2013/
