Care and health
palliative care
In short and in plain language
Palliative care helps people who are very ill and will not get well again.
It aims to ease pain and other problems. People should feel as well as they can.
It can happen at home, in a care home, in a hospice or in hospital.
Definition
Palliative care supports people with an incurable, progressive illness. The aim is to relieve symptoms such as pain or breathlessness and to maintain quality of life. It can take place at home, in a care home, in a hospice or in hospital.