Understanding palliative care

When the term “palliative care” is used, along with it can come some misunderstandings and uncertainty. Palliative care is a specialized kind of medicine that supports seriously ill patients helping to alleviate their pain and other symptoms associated with the disease. Palliative care is a vital practice that can transform the quality of life for patients and for their families.

We spoke with Osler’s Dr. Mitali Vatsraj, Palliative Care Physician and Liliana Astorino, Clinical RN, to debunk some of the most common myths about palliative care, and to learn about the impact compassionate care plays in supporting patients with a serious illness.

Myth #1: Palliative care and hospice care are the same.

One of the most common misconceptions is that the terms palliative care and hospice care are used interchangeably. However, while both focus on improving the quality of life for patients, they differ significantly.

Fact: Palliative care offers support to those dealing with a serious illness. It’s not just about managing pain; it’s about addressing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the individuals throughout their journey. Palliative care is about enhancing the quality of life for patients and their families.

Palliative care is a philosophy of care that focuses on the patient’s overall wellbeing, relieving symptoms and improving quality of life. On the other hand, hospice care offers support to individuals who are nearing end-of-life. Hospice provides comfort and support rather than life prolonging treatments.

Myth #2: Palliative care is only for the terminally ill.

Palliative care is often viewed by many families as end-of-life care or giving up hope for the patient. However, neither is true and it is quite the opposite.

Fact: Everyone on the palliative care team carries hope with patients and families. The majority of the care focuses on supporting and educating patients and their families while they are receiving treatment for their underlying disease. Palliative care serves a diverse range of patients, from those with advanced cancer, to heart problems, to individuals with dementia. Patients receiving palliative care can vary by age, medical history, and prognosis. The approach to care is personalized and tailored to cater to each patient and their unique circumstance. Palliative care when integrated early in the illness can maximize the benefits of support.

Myth #3: Palliative care is siloed and there is no involvement from other care teams.

Fact: Palliative care takes a holistic approach, involving the patient’s entire care team, from physicians to nurses to specialists like occupational therapists, nutritionists, and physiotherapists. The practice of palliative care works because of the holistic approach of the entire team, partnering to really get to know the individual person - the patient they are caring for.

In addition to the physical support, there’s also immense emotional support that palliative care offers. From working with social workers, to the spiritual care team, to health care aides - successful palliative care can only be possible with the full spectrum of support across many different disciplines and teams.

Learn more about our Palliative Care team at Osler.