Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv)...

...is specialized medical care for those with serious illnesses that focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis.

The point of palliative care is to relieve suffering and provide the best possible quality of life for both the patient and their family. Palliative care is a partnership of patient, medical specialists and family. Massage, acupuncture, supplements, physical therapy and medications are just some of the methods used to relieve pain and other symptoms.

 

What is the Difference Between
Palliative Care and Hospice?

Palliative care is used to relieve discomfort of an injury or illness that is not necessarily life threatening. Palliative care can be used during curative treatments. Hospice can include palliative care, but the hospice patients have a terminal illness or degenerative condition and includes end-of-life issues.