Specialized palliative doctors and information on palliative therapy

What is palliative therapy

Palliative therapy is a part of palliative medicine. Palliative therapy is not about curing illnesses, but about providing the best possible care for terminally ill people and their relatives.

The term palliative is derived from the Latin word "pallium" and means "cloak" or "mantle". Palliative therapy is therefore concerned with the care of seriously ill people.

The aim of palliative therapy is to assist all those affected in this last stage of life and to make it easier for them. For example, through measures that alleviate symptoms and make everyday life easier.

The main task of palliative therapy is to create a holistic treatment and care plan for each patient. The focus here is on the patient and their current needs.

When is palliative therapy necessary

Palliative therapy is necessary if the patient is terminally ill and their life expectancy is limited. This is usually the case with malignant tumors in an advanced stage.

This category also includes

• Neurological diseases in the terminal stage
• Serious diseases of vital organs such as the heart or lungs
• Muscular diseases with limited life expectancy
• Metabolic diseases with a short life expectancy
• Severe dementia

Once a diagnosis has been made, the primary aim is to support the patient holistically.

Palliative therapy deals with:

• The alleviation of physical symptoms associated with the disease. For example, pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness and listlessness.
• The alleviation of psychological symptoms. For example, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, restlessness and insomnia;
• Spiritual concerns such as questions of meaning, life after death, etc;
• Social concerns such as family support, assistance and advice in dealing with illness and death together and more.

Methods of palliative therapy

Depending on the clinical picture, the responsible doctor will initiate individual and appropriate medical treatment. In the case of a tumor, for example, palliative chemotherapy may be appropriate.

Palliative chemotherapy is not aimed at a cure. The aim is to alleviate pain. Possible alternatives are effective medication, immunotherapy or radiotherapy. In rare cases, surgical intervention.

In palliative care, patients benefit from an interdisciplinary and multi-professional team that works together to care for the patient. The focus here is on measures to improve quality of life and practical help in coping with disabilities and symptoms.

Stay on the palliative care ward

If the patient is in the last stage of life and needs support, care and medical treatment from specialist staff, then admission to a specialist ward makes sense.

In a hospital, this is the palliative care ward. Alternatively, there are also hospices. While the palliative care unit is located in the hospital, the hospice is an inpatient facility such as a nursing home.

The staff in palliative care units or hospices come from different specialist areas.

These include

• Medical and nursing staff
• Social workers
• Physiotherapists
• psychotherapists
• Respiratory therapists
• Art and music therapists
• Pastoral care

This list shows how holistic palliative therapy is. The staff of palliative care units or hospices have special training to accompany people as they die.

Patients and their relatives receive comprehensive support with all the issues that this difficult situation entails. Anatural and open approach to taboo subjects such as illness, dying and saying goodbye is very important during this time. Surviving relatives often receive active help in coping with grief even after the patient's death.

Conclusion

For everyone involved, the impending death is a drastic experience, a borderline situation. Above all, the certainty that therapeutic efforts are no longer effective is a major challenge for those affected.

Instead of looking to the future and hoping for better times, as is often favored in Western society, it is now important to value every moment as potentially the last and to make it as unique and memorable as possible.

If the diagnosis is approached constructively after the initial shock, it can help all those affected to lead a more conscious and fulfilling existence. Palliative therapy offers valuable support and guidance in addition to all other tasks and functions.