Seraphean Palliative Care Services
Adding life to their days, not just days to their life
Welcome to Seraphean Health. We specialise in Palliative Care through our Seraphean Palliative Care Services clinical center. Let's explore what Palliative Care means...
What is Palliative Care?
The word palliate comes from the Latin pallium, meaning “a cloak” — symbolising care that gently protects patients from the harshness of distressing symptoms, whether or not a cure is possible.
Palliative care is specialised medical care that focuses on improving quality of life for people living with serious or life-limiting illnesses. It goes beyond treating disease alone and aims to relieve pain, control distressing symptoms, and support patients and their families physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
In palliative care, the patient is treated as a whole person. Physical symptoms are often influenced by emotional, social, and spiritual factors, and effective care addresses all these dimensions together.
Who is Palliative Care for?
Palliative care is for anyone living with a serious or life-limiting illness such as cancer (especially in advanced stages), advanced organ failure of the liver, kidneys, or lungs, and certain debilitating neurological conditions.
It is not limited to end-of-life care.
Palliative care can be provided alongside active treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Many patients experience pain, breathlessness, fatigue, and other distressing symptoms during these treatments. Palliative care helps reduce this suffering and provides comfort, support, and reassurance throughout the illness journey.
Does Palliative Care mean giving up hope?
Absolutely not. Palliative care is about "living well for long as possible." It supports patients in their treatments and provides comfort for the family.
How is Palliative Care different from regular treatment?
Regular treatment targets "curing the underlying disease" with a physical focus. Palliative care, however enhances quality of life, offers comfort, and provides holistic support for patients and. It beautifully complements regular medical treatment.
Components of Palliative Care
The image shows the interconnected dimensions in palliative care, emphasizing that no aspect is alone. True interdisciplinary collaboration and social interventions are often needed.
What is the WHO (World Health Organization) Palliative Care approach?
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Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
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Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process
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Intends neither to hasten nor postpone death
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Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care
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Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death
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Offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness and in their own bereavement
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The palliative approach comes early in the course of an illness, not just as end-of-life care
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There is emphasis on impeccable assessment, early identification of problems and implementation of appropriate treatments
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The care runs in conjunction with disease modifying treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy
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Palliative care can be provided in any setting – in a hospital, an as out-patient or as home-based care
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There is emphasis on a team approach to care