The most common misconception about palliative care is that it’s for dying patients. Many people think that palliative care is the same as hospice. If you search it on the Internet, they often do come up together. And yet, palliative care can improve a person’s overall quality of life. Many studies show that palliative care can actually help people live longer. A palliative care team can help patients complete their treatments and live healthier lives. Palliative care teams can help many patients with serious illness including those who:
Expect to recover fully from their illness.
Expect to live with a severe chronic disease for years.
Have a life-limiting diagnosis.
In short, palliative care is about reducing the burdens that comes with an illness, regardless of their prognosis.