Palliative care and it's importance

According to WHO,

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual. 

     The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

    It also involves psychological, social and spiritual support for you and your family or carers.

Principles of 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 and spiritual aspects of care.

·        Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death.

Multidisciplinary team,

Palliative care is best provided using a multidisciplinary team approach involving the patient, her family and close support persons, community health workers and special palliative care workers in the community, as well as health-care providers at all levels of facilities.

Attention to palliative care should start early in treatment and change along with the course of a disease. 

Palliative care team includes a group of specialized people who provides care, treatment along with moral & psychological support.

McMillian nurse is also one of the important team member.

Message,

Providing palliative care is a very powerful experience. Members of the team join people in what is usually a very difficult emotional journey when they want advice and courage. They may develop close friendships with patients, family members, and other caregivers during this time and may share tears and even laughter together. A person who provides good palliative care can know that they have helped others through one of life’s greatest challenges.