Palliative Care

Palliative care is an essential component of comprehensive care, treatment, and support for people and their families living with or affected by HIV and other progressive, chronic, or life-threatening illnesses.

 

It requires a holistic approach that incorporates relief of pain and other symptoms brought on by HIV, cancer, other diseases, or medicine side effects. It provides emotional support for depression, anxiety, and other problems; assistance with social support and daily living; and attention to the spiritual concerns of patients and their families. Finally, it is provided at any stage of the illness, from diagnosis to treatment to support for the bereaved after death.

 

FHI's approach to palliative care is developmental, that is, it recognizes that patients' and families' needs change over time, since the course of any illness often includes ups and downs in physical health and emotional and social wellbeing.

 

For palliative care to effectively relieve pain and improve quality of life, it must be fully integrated into care and treatment services, since it helps improve physical and emotional wellbeing and adherence to the medicine regimen.