Palliative Care: What Is It?

A concept analysis of palliative care in the United States

“…In recent times, this trend has transformed almost completely. Palliative care is no longer considered limited to the terminal phase or cancer diagnosis (Williams & Wheeler 2001). There has been increased attention to understanding how palliative care may be effective for chronic conditions such as AIDS (Cherin et al.…”

Communication Behaviors and Patient and Caregiver Emotional Concerns: A Description of Home Hospice Communication

“…The term hospice originated in the Middle Ages, referring to a place of rest and refuge for pilgrims and travelers (Phipps, 1988;Williams & Wheeler, 2001). In the 19th century, the term became associated with a place where terminally ill patients could be cared for and die with dignity (Phipps, 1988;Williams & Wheeler, 2001). The modern conceptualization of hospice is associated with symptom management for patients with a prognosis of six months or less to live and who have chosen not to pursue curative treatment.…”

Live Well, Die Well: The Development of an Online, Arts-Based Palliative Care Programme in the Shadow of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…In everyday parlance, the term palliative care is frequently used to refer to care given at the later stage of a life-threatening illness ( Van Mechelen et al., 2012 ). However, such usage limits palliative care to an end of life intervention, a position unsupported by medical policy and practice ( Williams & Wheeler, 2001 ). Instead, the General Medical Council (2010) sees palliative care as appropriate at any stage of a progressive illness.…”