What is palliative care?
Palliative care is an internationally recognized comprehensive concept for advising, supporting and caring for people of all ages with serious or life-threatening illnesses. Its aim is to improve quality of life and alleviate symptoms. Palliative care takes a holistic approach and attempts to bring together the skills of the treating doctors, therapists, nursing staff and social workers.
Or:
"Palliative care is an approach to improving the quality of life of patients and their families who are confronted with problems associated with a life-threatening illness. This is done through the prevention and alleviation of suffering, early detection, careful assessment and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial and spiritual problems."
WHO definition 2002, German translation
When does palliative care begin?
Today we say: as early as possible when a life-threatening disease has been diagnosed. And this is in addition to the therapy that is specifically directed against the tumor (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy). There are studies whose results indicate that palliative care not only improves the quality of life of people with serious illnesses, but can also prolong their lives and have a positive influence on the course of the disease.
Unfortunately, many people still think of the term palliative care exclusively in terms of treatment at the end of life and are reluctant to make use of this complementary service. Palliative care sees itself as "medicine for life" with self-determination and the best possible quality of life.
What does palliative care do?
Palliative care supports and advises you personally in your individual life situation. The involvement of relatives and their support and advice can be very important. The aim is always to achieve the best possible quality of life. That is why it is important to first look together with you at your current life situation and what your personal needs (physical, emotional, social, spiritual) are. Palliative care can build on this:
- support the treatment of symptoms such as pain, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion and loss of appetite.
- provide supportive counseling services such as psycho-oncology, biography work, social work and nutritional counseling.
- help to build up a network at home in case support is needed in everyday life at some point.
- Advice on anthroposophical and complementary therapies such as healing eurhythmy, external applications and wraps, rhythmic massage, yoga therapy, herbal and mineral remedies.
- They will help you to draw up a living will and, if necessary, an emergency plan for your home.