Palliative care is a specialized model of care incorporating medical, psychological, social, and spiritual aspects, all with a goal of relieving the burdens of a serious illness. The palliative care model can well be applied to most diseases to improve the quality of life for both patients and families. A “transdisciplinary” team of a doctor, nurse, social worker, and chaplain assess patients based on their needs, not on their prognosis. Although hospice incorporates this form of care near the end of life, palliative care is appropriate at any stage of a serious illness, including right from the point of diagnosis. While it addresses physical symptoms, it also aims to minimize emotional trauma and suffering from stress and to enhance spiritual wellness throughout the course of a disease, as an additional layer of support for the patient and family.

 

In this second podcast of our two-part series on palliative care and hospice, Adriana Gonzalez, LCSW of the University of California, San Diego, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, talks about the benefits of palliative care, the ongoing relationship of the care team with the patient and family, and how this form of care can specifically address the needs of people with Parkinson’s disease, including their non-motor symptoms.