Palliative care

Date Updated: 06/16/2026

Overview

Palliative care is specialized medical care that focuses on providing relief from pain and symptoms of a serious illness or the side effects from treatments.

Palliative care is provided by a team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists and music therapists. The team works with you, your family and your other healthcare professionals to add an extra layer of support and relief that complements your ongoing care.

Why it's done

Palliative care may be offered to people of any age who have serious or life-threatening illnesses, such as:

Cancer.
Blood and bone marrow conditions requiring stem cell transplant.
Heart disease.
Dementia.
End-stage liver disease.
Kidney failure.
Lung disease.
Parkinson's disease.
Stroke and other serious illnesses.

Symptoms that may be improved by palliative care include:

Pain.
Nausea or vomiting.
Anxiety or nervousness.
Depression or sadness.
Constipation.
Difficulty breathing.
Loss of appetite.
Fatigue.
Trouble sleeping.
Emotional or spiritual distress.

How you prepare

Your palliative care team meets with you and your family to support you during your healthcare journey. Team members discuss ways to manage and reduce your symptom burden and improve your quality of life. To prepare for your initial consultation, it is recommended to:

Bring a list of symptoms you're experiencing. Write down what makes the symptoms better or worse and whether they affect your ability to go about your daily activities.
Bring a list of medicines and supplements you use. Write down how often you use the medicines and the doses you take. For example, you may take one pill every four hours for five days. If you can, write what you use that helps with your symptoms or what you use that does not help.
Consider bringing a family member or friend with you to the appointment.
Bring any advance directives and living wills you've completed.

What you can expect

During your consultation, the palliative care team explores ways to help you manage your symptoms, including:

Programs and resources available to support you throughout your illness.
Treatment options, along with the reasons for and against each.
Guidance for making decisions that align with your personal values and goals.

Your first meeting may take place while you're in the hospital or in an outpatient clinic. Research suggests that early use of palliative care services can:

Improve the quality of life for people with serious illnesses.
Decrease depression and anxiety.
Increase patient and family satisfaction with care.
In some cases, extend survival.

During the consultation

Your palliative care team talks with you about your symptoms and current treatments. The team may discuss how this illness is affecting you and your family. You and your palliative care team make a plan to ease your symptoms and improve your daily life. This plan will be carried out in coordination with your primary care team in a way that works well with any other treatment you're receiving.

After the consultation

Your palliative care plan is designed to fit your life and needs. It may include elements such as:

Symptom management. Your palliative care plan includes steps to address your symptoms and improve your comfort and well-being. The care team can answer questions you may have, such as whether your pain medicines may affect treatments you're receiving from your primary healthcare professional.
Support and advice. Palliative care services include support for the many difficult situations and decisions you and your family make when you're facing a serious illness.

You and your family may talk with a palliative care social worker, chaplain or other team member about stress, spiritual questions, financial concerns or how your family will cope if a loved one dies. The social worker also may be able to connect you with community resources.

Care techniques that improve your comfort and sense of well-being. These may include breathing techniques, meditation, guided imagery, aromatherapy, Reiki, music therapy or acupressure.
Referrals. Your palliative care specialist may refer you to other medical professionals, for example, specialists in psychiatry, pain medicine or integrative medicine.
Advance care planning. A palliative care team member also can talk with you about goals and wishes for your care in the future. This information can then be used to help you develop a living will, advance directive and a healthcare power of attorney.