Palliative care is any form of medical care or treatment that concentrates on reducing the severity of disease symptoms, rather than providing a cure. The goal is to prevent and relieve suffering and to improve quality of life for people facing serious, complex illness. Palliative care is a kind of care for people who have illnesses that do not go away and often get worse over time. It is different from care to cure your illness, called curative treatment. Palliative care focuses on improving your quality of life - not just in your body, but also in your mind and spirit.

Sometimes palliative care is combined with curative treatment. Palliative care may help you and your loved ones better understand your illness, talk more openly about your feelings, or decide what treatment you want or do not want. It can also make sure your doctors, nurses, and loved ones understand your goals and are "on the same page." Hopefully, the sources of information you find on this website will help you to understand when, and if, it is appropriate to seek palliative care for yourself or a loved one.

What is palliative care?

Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

World Hospice & Palliative Care Day - October 11, 2008