When an aging loved one faces a severe, chronic, or terminal illness, the focus of care often shifts to managing the disease itself. The treatments, medications, and hospital visits. But what about managing the person? The pain, fatigue, anxiety, and emotional distress that so often accompany these conditions can drastically diminish quality of life, for both the patient and the family.
This is where palliative care steps in, offering a transformative approach that is often misunderstood. Far from being limited to end-of-life care, palliative care is specialized medical care focused on relieving the symptoms and stress of a serious illness at any stage. Its goal is simple yet profound: to improve the patient’s quality of life and support the family, helping everyone navigate a challenging journey with greater comfort, dignity, and control.
Palliative Care is Focused on Quality of Life
Palliative (PAL-ee-uh-tiv) care is medical care designed for people with severe health conditions.
This type of care focuses on relieving pain, stress, and other disease-related symptoms.
The #1 goal is to improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
We explain how it differs from hospice care, how seniors and caregivers benefit, the health conditions for which it’s often used, and where to find a palliative care physician.
Palliative Care vs Hospice Care: They’re Not the Same
Palliative care is often confused with hospice care – but they’re different.
Palliative care is used during any stage of a serious illness.
Hospice care is for patients who are ill enough for a doctor to certify that they may not live beyond 6 months. (Hospice isn’t a death sentence, though. Get the facts here.)
Palliative Care Benefits for Seniors and Family
Older adults often experience a range of aches, pains, and discomforts alongside severe health conditions.
On top of that, medical treatments to cure or reverse health conditions can affect older bodies more harshly and are more likely to cause significant side effects.
Palliative doctors are specialists with extra training and experience in pain management and symptom control.
They help seniors and family caregivers cope with the side effects of medical treatments, fears, and caregiver stress. That’s a big plus – family caregivers get additional support.
Another significant benefit of palliative care is that these doctors can help families make difficult medical decisions.
They’ll take the time to discuss the pros and cons of various treatment options, answer questions, and address concerns.
Without that expert guidance, making tough medical decisions can be even more stressful.
What Symptoms Does Palliative Care Relieve?
By relieving symptoms, palliative care often improves a person’s ability to tolerate medical treatments and recover.
It also gives seniors and caregivers greater control by improving their understanding of treatment options.
Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms like:
- Pain
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty sleeping
- Depression
What Types of Illnesses Use Palliative Care?
Palliative care is helpful for people with any severe or chronic illness.
Common conditions include:
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cancer
- Congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Kidney failure
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Severe arthritis
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease
How to Find a Palliative Care Doctor Near You
Contact your older adult’s healthcare organization to identify palliative care physicians in their healthcare plan’s network.
Their doctor may also be able to refer you to a good palliative care doctor in the area.
There’s also an online directory of palliative care doctors from The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), part of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
Final Thoughts About Palliative Care
Choosing palliative care is a powerful decision to prioritize comfort, clarity, and quality of life for a loved one facing a serious illness. It is a layer of support that works alongside curative treatments to address the whole person – body, mind, and spirit.
By managing pain, easing emotional distress, and providing a dedicated team to guide complex decisions, palliative care empowers families and patients to reclaim a sense of peace and control during an uncertain time. It’s not about giving up hope; it’s about radically redefining what hope looks like – shifting the focus from simply fighting a disease to living as fully and comfortably as possible.
Exploring palliative care options can be one of the most compassionate gifts you give your loved one and yourself, ensuring that every day is lived with the utmost dignity and support.
Next Steps: Find a palliative care doctor in your area
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Recommended for you:
- 9 Top Questions About Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care
- Hospice Care Isn’t a Death Sentence: Get the Facts
- 7 Tips for Helping Seniors at the Doctor: Being a Health Advocate
About the Author
Connie is the founder of DailyCaring.com and was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also understands the importance of support, especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.
