PALLIATIVE CARE – WHAT IT IS

When one falls seriously ill with a life limiting condition like cancer, it affects every part of our lives, and also affects those who are a part of our lives.

Moreover, when the condition is beyond cure, the emotional trauma can be paralyzing.

At times like that, quite often the treating physician will tell the patient and family there is nothing more than can be done and to go home and make the best of the remaining days.

But the patient and family need professional help to support them through this challenging phase of their lives; and that’s when palliative care can make all the difference.

Palliative care is team work and is delivered by a multidisciplinary team with different experts working together to provide holistic relief i.e. specially trained palliative care doctors, nurses and psycho-social counsellors. A doctor, assisted by 2 nurses and one counsellor, normally make up the palliative care team. Such teams may also have a physiotherapist.