Palliative Care

Palliative care and Hospice care are often confused, as many of the same aspects of hospice care are similiar in palliative care.
The World Health Organization defines palliative care as "the active total care of patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment." and "the goal of palliative care is achievement of the best quality of life for patients and their families."
Hospice and Palliative Care tend to host the following six points:

Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process
Neither hastens nor postpones death
Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of care, while fostering opportunities to grow
Offers an interdisciplinary team to help patients live as actively as possible until death
Offers a support system for the family during the patient’s illness and as well as their own bereavement.

The Carolinas Center for Hospice and End-of-Life Care present a model of the continuum of life care as a way of understanding the continuum of life care.

Life is a continuing journey – it does not stop! Each aspect must be challenged with strength and faith.