Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.
Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness and can be provided along with curative treatment.
Jane Brody: Palliative Care: The Treatment that Respects Pain 12/2/2013 This is a helpful overview.
GetPalliative Care is a website that has background information, plus a provider directory of where the service is available in the U.S.
Image from NY Times December 2, 2013