Palliative care

Question 1

what is palliative care?

Answer 1

Palliative care is treatment, care and support for people with a life-limiting illness, and their family and friends. It’s sometimes called ‘supportive care’.

The aim of palliative care is to help you to have a good quality of life – this includes being as well and active as possible in the time you have left. It can involve:

managing physical symptoms such as pain
emotional, spiritual and psychological support
social care, including help with things like washing, dressing or eating
support for your family and friends.

A life-limiting illness is an illness that can’t be cured and that you’re likely to die from. You might hear this type of illness called ‘life-threatening’ or ‘terminal’.

You can receive palliative care at any stage in your illness. Having palliative care doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re likely to die soon – some people receive palliative care for years. You can also have palliative care alongside treatments, therapies and medicines aimed at controlling your illness, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

However, palliative care does include caring for people who are nearing the end of life – this is sometimes called end of life care.

Question 2

What are some palliative care professionals?

Answer 2

palliative care doctors
nurse specialists
counsellors
specialist health professionals, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians and social workers.

Question 3

What questions regarding pain should be asked?

Answer 3

1. SOCRATES

2. Pain management - where on the pain management ladder

Question 4

What conditions should be screened for?

Answer 4

Screen for;

1. breathlessness
2. constipation
3. anorexia
4. nausea and vomiting

Question 5

What other factors should be assesed?

Answer 5

1. spiritual or religious beliefs
2. emotional support is wanted
3. complimentary therapies are available.