Palliative care is the physical, psychological, social and
spiritual care provided by a multi-disciplinary team of experts to anyone with
a life-threatening illness and their families. Care is offered from the point
of diagnosis and extends to bereavement support if needed. It is an extra layer
of support that can be provided alongside disease-directed treatment.
The
consensus-based definition of palliative care, published in 2019 by the
International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), states that:
“Palliative care is the active holistic care of individuals
across all ages with serious health-related suffering due to severe illness,
and especially of those near the end of life. It aims to improve the quality of
life of patients, their families and their caregivers.”
Read the
full definition here.