Palliative care is a specialized form of medical treatment that focusses on offering relief from the pain, symptoms and stress of serious injury or an operation. Palliative care is also meant for people suffering from a terminal illness where a cure is not always possible and for those who have suffered, or are suffering, a complicated illness and need their symptoms controlled. This type of care (also known as hospice care) is provided for seriously ill patients who can no longer hope for a cure and need to be kept comfortable and as pain-free as long as possible during the remaining days of his or her life. Palliative or hospice care also includes caring for people who are nearing the end of their lives. In such cases, it’s also called end of life care.

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