Palliative care is essentially a professional, evidence-based medical approach whose primary goal is to improve the quality of life of patients coping with serious and/or incurable illness, and not necessarily treatment intended only for the final stages of life. It is designed to improve the quality of life of patients and their family members who support them.
What exactly is palliative care?
Palliative care is a medical field that focuses on relieving physical, emotional, and mental suffering caused by complex illness. Unlike treatment aimed at curing the disease, the palliative approach focuses on symptom management, pain reduction, improving daily functioning, and providing comprehensive support to the patient and family.
The treatment is provided in parallel with other medical treatments—including chemotherapy, radiation, biological therapies, or advanced medications—and does not require cessation of active treatment of the disease. In fact, research shows that early integration of palliative care may improve quality of life and sometimes even extend it.
What does palliative care include?
When asking what does palliative care include? the answer is broad and comprehensive. This is a multidisciplinary treatment framework that includes:
- Professional pain management – adjustment of pain relief medications in a controlled and safe manner.
- Treatment of additional symptoms – shortness of breath, nausea, extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression.
- Emotional and mental support – psychological or social support for the patient and family.
- Assistance in making medical decisions – explanation of treatment options, advance planning, and advance directives.
- Family support – guidance and tools for coping with emotional and practical burden.
The treatment is provided by a multidisciplinary team including physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other professionals, working together to build a personalized treatment plan.
Who is palliative care for?
Palliative care is intended for people coping with serious, chronic, or advanced illnesses, such as:
- Cancer patients at various stages of the disease
- Advanced heart and lung diseases
- Neurological diseases such as ALS, Parkinson’s, or dementia
- Advanced kidney failure
- Complex chronic diseases accompanied by pain or functional decline
It is important to emphasize: the treatment is not limited to a specific age and is not intended only for terminal conditions. It can be integrated at relatively early stages of the disease, with the aim of alleviating suffering and improving functioning and emotional balance.
Supportive care for the patient and family
Since palliative care does not only address physical pain relief, the family is an integral part of the process.
The medical team provides ongoing guidance and support, helps cope with feelings of anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty, and provides tools for dealing with changes in the patient’s daily functioning. The family learns to identify early signs of suffering or new symptoms, understand treatment options, and be an active partner in decision-making. This creates a complete support framework, both for the patient and for those close to them, aimed at reducing stress, alleviating emotional burden, and maintaining optimal quality of life for all involved.
Palliative care at Lev Nursing
Here at Lev Nursing, your health and that of your loved ones is our top priority.
We are here to provide you with the peace of mind you need, with advanced medical services tailored precisely to your needs—at every stage, in every place, and in every situation. Let’s talk.
