The Turkish Language Institution defines the word palliative as “non-therapeutic, temporarily relieving and relieving aches and pains”. It is commonly expressed as supportive care given to patients and their relatives in terminally ill patients for whom therapeutic approaches are insufficient. Palliative care can be explained as attempts to improve the quality of life in end-of-life care. This process is possible with the collective work of many different departments.
In recent years; Palliative care centers are needed and their importance is increasing with the increase in cancers, prolongation of life expectancy with treatments and increase in chronic diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines palliative care as “an approach developed by early identification, evaluation and treatment of quality of life, pain and other physical, psychosocial and spiritual problems of patients and families facing problems in life-threatening situations”. The view that "palliative care is the conscientious responsibility of all physicians" was added by WHO in 2014, and in the same way, the issue of psychological, social, spiritual and physical support of patient relatives in this process and during the mourning period was included in the definition of palliative care.
Palliative Care Center in our hospital has been providing palliative care services for more than 3 years. Our center mainly serves end-stage cancer patients. In fact, the main goal is for every patient to stay away from their home and experience the process with their family in a home environment. However, this is not always possible. The patient's pain, nausea, nutritional difficulties or the necessity of medical devices do not make this goal possible. Overcoming the difficulties faced by the patient and his/her immediate environment is not always limited to solving the main disease. Reducing a patient's pain, albeit temporarily, enabling him to have a meal without nausea...
All these are the principles of palliative care, such as focusing on maintaining a quality life in the patient, effective symptom control and communication, accepting death as a natural process, respecting the decisions and choices of the patient, showing an interdisciplinary approach, and providing support to the family during the grieving process.
What are the expectations of families in palliative care?
It is the management of symptoms and complaints, emotional support, information, education, communication, taking part in decisions about the patient, answering the questions of the caregivers, spending more time with the patient and having more opportunities.
Palliative Care centers have been established and serve with these perspectives.