What is palliative care?

The World Health Organisation’s palliative care definition is:

“An approach that improves the quality of life of individuals and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs.”

Palliative care is delivered by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals that can include specialist doctors, nurses, GPs, allied health professionals, grief counsellors, and pastoral care workers. Delivered in the patient’s own home or in hospital, aged-care and hospice settings, the patient takes on a key role in deciding and managing their care.

Communication is vital and the palliative care team is committed to ensuring the patient and their carers are knowledgeable about their care so they can make well-informed choices and get the most out of every day.

Palliative care embraces a holistic approach and is open to people of all ages and at all stages of their life-threatening illness. It covers pain and symptom management, keeping the patient as pain-free and comfortable as possible, and also provides a wide range of emotional support that encompasses not just the client but their family and carers too.

Many people receive palliative care in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes, which helps to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Specialist palliative care is available for people who experience complex problems during the progression of their life-limiting illness.