Living with a serious illness can be challenging in so many ways. You may be dealing with pain and other uncomfortable symptoms, fearful about your future or concerned about how your loved ones are coping with your illness. Palliative care can help. Palliative care is a medical specialty that has been discussed recently, often inaccurately, as part of the healthcare reform debate. The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine provided answers to the most frequently asked questions about palliative care.
What is Palliative Care?
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Palliative care is for people with a serious illness, whether that illness is curable, chronic or life-threatening. Palliative care prevents and alleviates suffering and helps people achieve quality of life through:
• Pain and symptom relief
• Guidance in making complex medical decisions
• Emotional and spiritual support
• Help in navigating the healthcare system
Hospice is a specific type of palliative care for people for whom a cure is no longer possible and who likely have six months or less to live.