Palliativecare is specialized medical care for people living with a seriousillness. This type of care is focused on relief from the symptomsand stress of a seriousillness. The goal is to improvequality of life for both the patient and the family.
Palliativecare is providedby a specially-trainedteam of doctors, nurse sand other special is tswho work to gether with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extralayer of support. It is appropriate at any ageand at any stage in a seriousillness, and it can be providedal on gwith curative treatment.
Palliative care teams specialize in treating people suffering from the symptomsandstress of serious illnesses such as cancer, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and many more. This type of care treats pain, depression, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and any other symptoms that may be causingdistress.