Palliative care provides essential support for people who have a disease that can’t be cured, especially in the last months or years of their life. It’s something that we often don’t consider until we - or someone we love - is facing an incurable diagnosis. All of us have a right to die with dignity and to live as well as possible up until that point. It’s also easy to forget just how much support families and loved ones need during this time. Palliative care integrates the wishes and needs of the person who is ill, as well as those of their family and friends, to help support the most dignified life - and end of life - possible, whatever the situation.
 
Palliative care for those who have an incurable illness
 
Palliative care is a vital part of end of life care that is provided to those who have an illness that can’t be cured. However, it may also begin earlier in an illness, ensuring that you have the support you need to cope with any aspect of the physical or mental and emotional experience. Palliative care may include helping to manage pain and other symptoms that are causing physical or mental distress - making someone more comfortable no matter what the circumstances is one of the main aims of palliative care. A big part of palliative care is focusing on the other considerations that can also come up at this time, such as spiritual wants, psychological and social needs that you - or your friends and family - may have. It’s a much more holistic approach to handling an illness that cannot be cured.
 
Who provides palliative care?
 
This is a support network that is made up of a range of different people from across the medical profession. It will depend, to a certain extent, on the individual needs of the patient. It will likely require involvement from a local GP and community nurses and could also include physiotherapists, consultants and specialist occupational therapists who can provide specific care.
 
When is palliative care available?
 
In the context of end of life care it’s hard to predict when this will be required, even with an incurable disease. However, if the patient is likely to die within the next 12 months this is usually the point at which end of life care will kick in. Palliative care for people who have an incurable illness may begin before this point - you may start out receiving palliative care and this can integrate seamlessly into end of life care where necessary.
 
Accessing palliative and end of life care
 
If you have been diagnosed with an incurable disease then palliative care is something that will be raised by your medical team. You should take any opportunities available to ask questions about your options and find out what kind of resources are going to be available to you - and your friends and family - to support you through this challenging time.
 
Palliative care is available to anyone who needs it and is provided by a team of medical specialists able to cater to all individual needs. This assures that your family and loved ones receive the most dignified and effective treatments possible.