Palliative care is specialised care and support provided for someone living with a terminal condition. Palliative care also involves care and support for family members and carers.

 

Palliative care is provided in a sensitive way, taking into account individual and family uniqueness, cultural and spiritual beliefs and lifestyle patterns.

 

Palliative care:

- affirms life and regards dying as a normal process

- neither hastens nor postpones death

- provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms

- integrates the psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects of patient care

- offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death

- offers a support system to help family and friends cope during the patient’s illness and their bereavement.