What is palliative care?
Palliative care is an area of health care that focuses on providing the best quality of life for people with serious illness. People of all ages can access palliative care at different stages of their illness.
It can be provided:
- with medical care you are receiving, even when cure is possible
- in the advanced stages of illness
- and at the end of life
Many people are surprised to learn that palliative care can help people live better throughout their illness, and not just at end of life. In fact, people who add palliative care to their existing care team may live a better quality of life and also may live longer.
Palliative care is available for people with illnesses due to cancer, and also illnesses not related to cancer. The types of non-cancer illnesses that palliative care teams may support include:
- heart, lung, kidney, and liver disease
- neurologic diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s
- other critical illness such as major infections or injury
Together with your other health care providers, the palliative care team works closely to provide you and your loved ones with best possible quality of life.
How can palliative care help me?
The palliative care team provides an added layer of support to you and to your family in the following ways:
- experienced professionals helping you manage bothersome symptoms like pain, shortness of breath and fatigue so that you can feel your best
- supporting you and your caregivers in having discussions about what matters most to you and guiding treatment plans according to your values and wishes
- providing emotional support for you and your caregivers to cope with the stress of serious illness
- helping to coordinate care and navigate the health care system so that you will continue to receive the best supportive care in your home
Symptom management
Symptoms may come from your illness or from the treatments that you are getting.
Common symptoms include:
- pain
- nausea (feeling of wanting to vomit)
- vomiting (throwing up)
- shortness of breath (having problems with breathing)
- fatigue (feeling very tired)
- loss of appetite (trouble eating)
- trouble sleeping
- constipation (trouble having a bowel movement)
Many of these symptoms can be helped with medicines. There are also ways to cope with symptoms that don’t use medicines.
Speak to your palliative care team to learn about some options for you.
Psychosocial (emotional, social and practical) support
Dealing with a serious illness can be stressful. You may feel emotions such as sadness, fear and anxiety. Palliative care can help you and your caregivers cope with your illness by:
- providing counseling to help you deal with the emotions you may be feeling
- suggesting support groups and other community resources
- exploring the meaning of your illness and your spiritual beliefs
- making referrals to other psychosocial health experts
Advance care planning and Goals of Care
The palliative care team can help you explore your goals, wishes and plan for the future. They can help you with some of the following:
- Address concerns about advance care planning, such as appointing a power of attorney for personal care.
- Discuss your values (what is important to you) and help you make decisions about your care and treatment.
- Connect you and your family with appropriate supports in the hospital or community as needed.
How do I access the palliative care program?
The palliative care program at UHN offers a number of services across our hospital sites and with our community partners.
Ask your health care team at UHN to refer you to the palliative care program to learn more about how we can help you.
At Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
- Inpatient consultation
- Warren-Connolly Palliative Care Clinic
- Harold and Shirley Lederman Palliative Care Unit
- This a short-term care unit. Patients will get help to manage symptoms including pain. The goal is to help you go home or move to a longer term palliative care unit. You will also get support in planning for end of life care.
At Toronto General Hospital
- Inpatient consultation
- Outpatient clinics
At Toronto Western Hospital
- Inpatient consultation
- Outpatient clinics
Where can I get more information on palliative care?
To learn more about our programs at UHN.
Search this website to find up-to-date inpatient hospice palliative care units listed by region.
Email:
PatientEducation@uhn.ca
(Princess Margaret Patient & Family Library)
To learn more about provincial education and tools on palliative care.
To get information and tools to help you have important conversations about what matters most to you.
