Palliative care in one sentence
Palliative care is specialised care that improves quality of life for people living with a serious illness, by preventing and relieving pain, symptoms and distress — for the patient and for the family around them.
It can be given at any age, at any stage of a serious illness, and alongside treatment that aims to cure.
The most common misunderstanding
Many people believe palliative care is only for the last days of life. It is not.
Palliative care can begin at diagnosis and continue for months or years. Some people receive palliative care while they are still having treatment intended to cure their illness. Others receive it over a long period as a condition slowly progresses.
Palliative care and hospice care: what is the difference?
- Palliative care is for anyone with a serious illness, at any stage, and can run alongside curative treatment.
- Hospice care is a form of palliative care offered when an illness is no longer expected to respond to curative treatment, usually in the final phase of life.
All hospice care is palliative care. Not all palliative care is hospice care.
Who is palliative care for?
Palliative care may help anyone living with a serious or life-limiting illness, including cancer, heart failure, kidney disease, chronic lung disease, HIV and neurological conditions. It also supports the family members and carers who look after them.
What does a palliative care team do?
- Assesses and relieves physical symptoms such as pain, breathlessness, nausea and fatigue
- Supports emotional, psychological and spiritual wellbeing
- Helps families understand the illness and plan ahead
- Coordinates care between hospital, clinic and home
- Supports carers, including practical guidance for caring at home
When should someone ask about palliative care?
It is reasonable to ask as soon as a serious illness is diagnosed. You do not need to wait until treatment options run out. Asking early usually means better symptom control, better planning, and better support for the whole family.
If you are caring for someone at home and feel out of your depth, that is also a good reason to ask. Supporting carers is part of what palliative care is for.
Palliative care in Africa
Across much of Africa, palliative care remains hard to access. The African Palliative Care Association (APCA) is a pan-African membership organisation working to ensure that palliative care is widely understood and integrated into health systems at all levels.
APCA has worked across the continent for over 20 years and has members in 40 countries. We support health workers, hospices, hospitals and national associations through training, resources, advocacy and research.
Find out more
Join APCA — individual and organisational membership is open to anyone working in or supporting palliative care in Africa.