Palliative care is comprehensive care provided by an interdisciplinary team for patients living with a life-limiting illness and their families. Care is focused on alleviating suffering and promoting quality of life. Major issues addressed are pain and symptom management, information regarding the illness, advance care planning, psychosocial and spiritual needs and coordinated care with other community resources.

Five Principles of Palliative Care

1	Palliative care respects the goals, likes and choices of the seriously-ill person. It... Respects your needs and wants as well as those of your family and other loved ones Finds out from you who you want to help plan and give you care Helps you understand your illness and what you can expect in the future Helps you figure out what's important Tries to meet your likes and dislikes: where you get healthcare, where you want to live, and the kinds of services you want Helps you work together with your healthcare provider and health plan to solve problems
2	Palliative care looks after the medical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the seriously ill person. It... Knows that this is an important time for you and your family Offers ways for you to be comfortable and ease pain and other physical discomfort Helps you and your family make needed changes if the illness gets worse Makes sure you are not alone Understand there may be difficulties, fears and painful feelings Gives you the chance to say and do what matters most to you Helps you look back on your life and make peace, even giving you a chance to grow
3	Palliative care supports the needs of the family members. It... Understands that families and loved ones need help, too Offers support services to family caregivers, such as time off for rest and advice and support by telephone Knows that caregiving may put some family members at risk of getting sick themselves - it plans for their special needs Finds ways for family members to cope with the costs of caregiving, like loss of income and other expenses Helps family and loved ones as they grieve
4	Palliative care helps gain access to needed healthcare providers and appropriate care settings. It... Uses many kinds of trained care providers - physicians, nurses, pharmacists, clergy, social workers and personal care providers Makes sure, if necessary, someone is in charge of seeing that your needs are met Helps you use hospitals, home care, hospice and other services, if needed Tailors options to the needs of you and your family
5	Palliative care builds ways to provide excellent care at the end of life. It... Helps care providers learn about the best ways to care for people with serious illness - it gives them the education and support they need Works to make sure there are good policies and laws in place Seeks funding by private health insurers, health plans and government agencies

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