Palliative care

What is it?

The aim of palliative care is not to cure a serious illness, nor to maintain or prolong life. Instead, the goal of palliative care is to relieve suffering associated with a chronically progressive disease that is fatal in a short period of time (usually less than a year). Death and the dying phase are assumed to be part of life; death is neither accelerated nor prolonged.

The aim is to improve the quality of life of the terminally ill patient and to enable him or her to live as actively as possible. The relief of pain and other symptoms of the disease is in the foreground. In addition, psychological, social and spiritual needs of the patient are integrated into the treatment. This is done, for example, through the support of the medical and nursing team by pastors or clergymen. Palliative care also aims to improve the quality of life of relatives by providing them with advice and support.

Palliative care at home

Many seriously ill patients have the desire to spend the last phase of their lives at home with their closest family. In order to fulfill this wish, it is necessary that the family wants to help with the care of the patient and can do so to the extent necessary. Support from the family doctor and an outpatient nursing service is also necessary.

At best, they also have experience in caring for dying patients and can be reached at short notice even in an emergency. Depending on the patient’s need for care, the patient is classified into a care level, which then determines the financial support of the health insurance companies for the care service. Some general practitioners have acquired the additional qualification “palliative medicine” through further training and can provide palliative medical care.

In some localities and communities, there are also “palliative teams” that provide medical care for palliative patients. Before palliative medical treatment takes place at home, important key points should be discussed: How is the general procedure planned? What should be done in possible emergency situations?

What (emergency) medication is the patient receiving? This patient’s will is recorded in a treatment plan and also offers doctors called in at short notice (family doctor’s replacement, emergency doctor, etc.) a quick overview of the patient’s situation.