Peoplewith terminal illnesses who are expected to die are entitled to palliative care and support. In medicine, “palliative” means “relieving” rather than “curing.” Palliative care refers to the comprehensive care of patients with incurable, progressive illnesses, with the aim of, for example, relieving pain, shortness of breath, or nausea, and preserving their dignity until the very end. The top priority in palliative care is to maintain the best possible quality of life. The wishes of the person who is ill are always the top priority. For palliative care, it is therefore particularly important that a living will (see that section) be in place. Among other things, it specifies whether pain-relieving or life-prolonging measures should take precedence.

Palliative care can be provided wherever a person is in the final stage of life: at home, in the hospital, or in a hospice. Palliative care services are covered by health insurance and must be prescribed by a doctor. There are now medical and nursing networks thatspecialize in outpatient palliative care . You can find these in many cities and counties under the name “Palliative Care Consultation Service” (PKD). Specialized doctors and nurses are therefore also available to provide care in the home.

If home care is no longer possible, care can be provided in a palliative care unit at a hospital or in a hospice. If your family member is in a nursing home, he or she can also receive additional care through a palliative care network while there. Nursing homes are also required to cooperate with outpatient hospice services. At hospice services, volunteers work to support people in the final stages of life. The nursing home develops a palliative care plan that ensures comprehensive medical, psychosocial, and nursing care.

You can find help in finding a suitable palliative care program here on a page of the German Society for Palliative Medicine.