What is palliative care?
Hospice palliative care is aimed at relief of suffering and improving the quality of life for persons who are living with or dying from advanced illness or are bereaved. Palliative care is a special kind of health care for individuals and families who are living with a life-threatening illness that is usually at an advanced stage. The goal of palliative care is comfort and dignity for the person living with the illness as well as the best quality of life for both this person and his or her family.

Is there a difference between palliative care and hospice care?
In Canada, we tend to use both terms to refer to the same thingÑthis specific approach to care. However, some people use hospice care to describe care that is offered in the community rather than in hospitals.

Who benefits from palliative care?
Individuals and families living with life-threatening illnesses benefit from palliative care. Many people who receive palliative care have cancer. Palliative care also helps those living with other diseases such as advanced heart, respiratory and kidney disease, Alzheimer Disease, AIDS, ALS and multiple sclerosis.

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What is involved in palliative care?
1. Pain management - People living with life-threatening illness may experience pain. Families are concerned about pain and how to relieve it. Health care providers work with patients and their families to find out what is causing the pain and the best ways to relieve it. Pain may be managed with narcotics and other drugs and by other means such as massage therapy and relaxation exercises.

2. Symptom management - Often people have to deal with a variety of other symptoms. These can include loss of appetite, nausea, weakness, difficulty breathing, bowel and bladder problems and confusion. Palliative care can help relieve these symptoms that may be very distressing.

3. Social, psychological, emotional and spiritual support - The health of the whole person is important in palliative care. Because of this, palliative care services provide many different kinds of support to both the individual and family.

4. Caregiver support - People may be concerned about whether they will be able to look after their ill family member, especially when the person is being cared for at home. Palliative care includes services that help the family cope.

What is bereavement support?
Palliative care services provide support for family members to work through their own emotions and grief regarding the death of their loved one. Bereavement support may begin when the grieving process starts. This may be before the death of the family member.Ê Bereavement support is an important part of palliative care for people who may have faced many losses over a short period of time.

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Who provides palliative care?
Most people are cared for by their family and friends. At certain times, they may need some help. In these situations, palliative care is usually provided by members of a palliative care team. When a team is involved, the person and his or her family are encouraged to make choices about the kind of care they want and to take an active part in planning care. Who is on the team is determined by the needs of the person and his or her family. The team often includes nurses with specialized palliative care skills, the personÕs family physician, a physician specialized in palliative care, a social worker, a spiritual counsellor and a pharmacist. Volunteers play an important role in palliative care providing support services such as companionship, relief for the caregiver and transportation. When the needs of the person and family require it, others may be added to the team, such as nutritionists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and home support workers.

How can I make my wishes known about the care I would like to receive when I am facing a life-threatening illness?
You should talk over your wishes with your family and let them know what you want. You can also put your wishes in writing so that, in the event you are unable to say what you want, your family and health care providers will know. Such documents are called advance directives or living wills. You can seek advice within your community about advance directives because the laws concerning them vary from province to province.

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