Palliative care is a branch of medicine that is concerned with preventing and relieving the suffering of patients in any stage of disease. Its focus is on comprehensive care and improving the quality of all areas of the patient's life, particularly when a patient is facing serious, extended, or life-threatening illness, or when a patient faces a challenging recovery from illness. Palliative care is often administered alongside curative treatments. The goal of palliative care is to prevent and relieve suffering, and to support the best possible quality of life for patients and their families. Palliative care should not be confused with hospice care. Palliative care is different from hospice care, or end-of-life care, in that hospice nursing is palliative care specifically for people in their final stages of life.
Ryland Johnson
johnsor7@yahoo.com