A client’s family member says to the nurse, “The doctor said he will provide palliative care. What does that mean?” The nurse’s best response is:
A. “Palliative care is given to those who have less than 6 months to live.”
B. “Palliative care aims to relieve or reduce the symptoms of a disease.”
C. “The goal of palliative care is to affect a cure of a serious illness or disease.”
D. “Palliative care means the client and family take a more passive role and the doctor focuses on the physiological needs of the client. The location of death will most likely occur in the hospital setting.”
Correct Answer: B. “Palliative care aims to relieve or reduce the symptoms of a disease.”
The goal of palliative care is the prevention, relief, reduction, or soothing of symptoms of disease or disorders without effecting a cure. Palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and that of their families who are facing challenges associated with life-threatening illness, whether physical, psychological, social, or spiritual. The quality of life of caregivers improves as well.
Option A: Palliative care is required for a wide range of diseases. The majority of adults in need of palliative care have chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (38.5%), cancer (34%), chronic respiratory diseases (10.3%), AIDS (5.7%), and diabetes (4.6%). Many other conditions may require palliative care, including kidney failure, chronic liver disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, neurological disease, dementia, congenital anomalies, and drug-resistant tuberculosis.
Option C: Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients (adults and children) and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illnesses. It prevents and relieves suffering through the early identification, correct assessment, and treatment of pain and other problems, whether physical, psychosocial, or spiritual.
Option D: Addressing suffering involves taking care of issues beyond physical symptoms. Palliative care uses a team approach to support patients and their caregivers. This includes addressing practical needs and providing bereavement counseling. It offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death.