Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service
Palliative Care
Palliative care is the comprehensive management of a patient's physical, psychological,
social, spiritual and existential needs. It can be part of the treatment for any
person with a serious illness or life-threatening medical condition for whom a patient-centered
approach focusing on pain and symptom control, family involvement and compassionate
care are needed.
Palliative care aims to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for patients
with advanced illness and their families. It is provided by an interdisciplinary
team and is offered in conjunction with other appropriate forms of medical treatment.
The primary tenets of palliative care include:
- Pain and other symptoms are treated as emergencies
- Psychological and spiritual support are provided to both patients and families
- Options for treatment and advanced life planning are discussed early in evaluation
- Quality of life is considered a primary focus of care
What is the difference between Hospice and Palliative Care?
Hospice care and palliative care have much in common, but there is a subtle difference
between the two. Palliative care has broadened its focus to include comfort-oriented
care for patients with debilitating conditions, not just those with life limiting
illnesses. Importantly, patients may receive this type of care while undergoing
active disease-related therapy. Like hospice care, it is multidisciplinary in approach,
and it incorporates social and emotional support with medical treatment. The family
or caregiver system is considered to have a vital role in patient care. Therefore,
careful attention is paid to long-term care planning. Hospice care is one form of
palliative care.
Relieving pain is a primary focus of palliative care. Alleviating other symptoms
such as breathlessness, nausea, itching, insomnia, and anorexia receives a high
priority as well. As these symptoms are controlled, the emotional, social and spiritual
issues a patient and family are facing are also addressed.
Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service has offered palliative home care services through
the Supportive Care Team since 1993.