What is palliative care and palliative care? (2023)

end of life

English

Many Americans die in facilities such as hospitals or nursing homes that receive care that is not to their liking. It is important for seniors to plan ahead and inform their caregivers, doctors, or family members in advance of their end-of-life preferences. For example, if an elderly person chooses to die at home, is treated for pain and other end-of-life symptoms, and informs healthcare professionals and their family, they are less likely to die in a hospital than to receive unwanted treatment. .

If the person is no longer able to make their own health care decisions, a caregiver or family member may need to make those decisions. Caregivers should consider several factors when choosing end-of-life care, including the older person's desire for life-prolonging treatments, the time remaining, and their preferred care environment.

What is palliative care?

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure. Palliative care patients may receive treatment for their symptoms or receive palliative care together with treatment to cure their serious illness. Palliative care is designed to improve a person's current care by focusing on the quality of life for him and his family.

Who can benefit from palliative care?

Palliative care is a resource for anyone living with a serious illness, such as:heart failure,Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,Krebs,Craziness,Parkinson's disease, and many others. Palliative care can be helpful at any stage of the disease and is best provided soon after a person has been diagnosed.

In addition to improving quality of life and relieving symptoms, palliative care can help patients understand their medical treatment options. Organized palliative care offers can be helpful for any older person with many general ailments and disabilities at the end of life.

Who is on the palliative care team?

A palliative care team is made up of many different professionals who work with the patient, the patient's family, and the patient's other physicians to provide medical, social, andemotional and practicalSupport. The team consists of palliative care physicians and nurses, but also social workers, nutritionists and pastors. A person's equipment can vary depending on their needs and level of care. To begin palliative care, a person's healthcare provider may refer them to a palliative care specialist. If he or she doesn't suggest it, the person can ask for a referral to a doctor.

Where is palliative care offered?

Palliative care can be provided in hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics and some other specialized clinics, or at home.state health insurance,Health insuranceand insurance policies may cover palliative care. Veterans may be eligible for palliative care from theVeterans Affairs Department. Some services can be covered by private health insurance. Health insurance companies can answer questions about their coverage.

Visit aWebsite der National Hospice and Palliative Care Organizationto find palliative care near you.

In palliative care, the person does not have to forego a treatment that could cure a serious illness. Palliative care can be provided alongside curative treatment and can begin at the time of diagnosis. If, over time, the doctor or palliative care team decides that the current treatment is no longer helping, there are two possibilities. Palliative care can movehospiceBe careful if the doctor thinks the person is likely to die within six months (seeWhat does the six-month palliative care obligation mean?). Or the hospice staff can continue to help with greater emphasiscomfort care.

For more information, see the NIA article onFrequently asked questions about palliative care.

What is palliative care?

More and more people are opting for palliative care at the end of life. Palliative care focuses on the care, comfort and quality of life of a person with a serious illness who is nearing the end of their life.

At some point it is possible that a serious illness can no longer be cured or that a patient decides against certain treatments. Hospice is designed for this situation. The patient who seeks palliative care understands that their illness is unresponsive to medical attempts to cure it or slow the progression of the disease.

Like palliative care, palliative care provides complete comfort and supportive care for the family, but in palliative care, attempts to cure the person's illness are halted. Hospice is provided to a terminally ill person whose doctor believes they have six months or less to live if the disease takes its natural course.

It is important for the patient to discuss palliative care options with their doctor. Sometimes people do not start palliative care early enough to get the most out of the help that is offered. Perhaps they are waiting too long to start hospice and are very close to death. Or some people are not entitled to hospice care long enough to receive their full benefits. Starting hospice early can provide months of meaningful care and quality time with loved ones.

Where is palliative care offered and who provides it?

Hospice is a care focus, so not tied to a specific location. It can be offered in two types of settings: at home or in a facility such as a nursing home, hospital, or even a separate palliative care unit.

Read more about where end-of-life care can be provided.

Palliative care brings together a team of people with special skills, including nurses, doctors, social workers, chaplains and trained volunteers. All work with the dying person, caregiver, and/or family to provide medical, emotional, andspiritualsupport required.

A member of the palliative care team will visit you regularly and someone is always available by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Hospices can be covered by Medicare and other insurance companies. Check whether the insurance covers the person's particular situation.

It is important to remember that stopping a treatment to cure a disease does not mean stopping the entire treatment. A good example is an elderly person with cancer. If the doctor determines that the cancer is not responding to chemotherapy and the patient chooses palliative care, the chemotherapy is stopped. Other medical care can continue as long as it is helpful. For example, if the person hashypertension, he or she still gets medication for it.

More information on hospice and palliative care

NIA Education and Referral Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementia (ADEAR)
800-438-4380
adear@nia.nih.gov
www.nia.nih.gov/alzheimers
The NIA ADEAR Center provides free printed information and publications about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias for families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. ADEAR Center staff will answer phone, email and written inquiries and refer you to local and national resources.

Alzheimers.gov
www.alzheimers.gov
Visit Alzheimers.gov for information and resources about Alzheimer's and related dementias across the federal government.

This content is provided by the NIH's National Institute on Aging (NIA). NIA researchers and other experts review this content to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date.

Revised content: May 14, 2021