Palliative Care

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. Focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness and with the goal of improving quality of life for both the patient and family, palliative care is offered at all ages and at any stage of illness. Geriatric medicine practices – already a person-centered, interdisciplinary type of care – overlap greatly in philosophy and care delivery with palliative care. This chapter discusses the palliative care approach and whole patient assessment, advance care planning, specific illness considerations, palliative care settings, and when to consider a separate palliative care consultation. By providing an added layer of support for symptoms and stress related to serious illness, palliative care can greatly enhance the care of older adults.