Palliative care is a branch of medicine that cares for patients’ well-being in three key categories: physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Palliative care seeks to alleviate physical pain while also recognizing emotional and spiritual needs during a patient’s serious or terminal illness. These doctors often speak with patients and their families about how serious illness affects relationships, and together they work through processing a range of emotions.
“Our health is a balance. If one area is not being tended to, we’re not going to reach optimal health.”
Palliative care teams sometimes help patients spiritually by connecting them with a chaplain. Chaplains assist patients to foster their relationship with God, as well as help family members come to greater peace and understanding of their loved one’s illness.
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Palliative care treats patients holistically to both alleviate physical ailments and improve mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
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