Palliative care is more than end-of-life care. It's about improving quality of life at any stage of serious illness.

On this page

• What is palliative care
• Starting a conversation about palliative care
• Grief support
• Myths and facts
• Palliative care videos

What is palliative care

Palliative care helps people living with serious illness

It is holistic care that focuses on managing symptoms, easing stress, and improving quality of life for people living with serious illness. Palliative care supports physical, emotional and spiritual needs, and can benefit people:

• of any age
• in any setting
• even while receiving other treatments

Learn more at Palliative care: Overview.

A palliative approach can be integrated into everyday care

For most people living with serious illness, palliative care can also:

• begin early
• involve care providers like family doctors, nurses, and others who are not palliative care specialists
• include family, community members, and others closest to the person

This is called a palliative approach to care. It supports the whole person and can start at diagnosis and continue throughout an illness. It can be provided in any setting, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, shelters, community clinics and even at home.

A family doctor or nurse practitioner can refer people with more complex needs to a palliative care doctor, nurse or team to receive specialist palliative care.

Palliative care isn't one-size-fits-all

Palliative care exists along a continuum that can begin at diagnosis and be offered alongside other treatments. Care can range from a palliative approach to care to specialist palliative care and can change depending on a person's needs.

Explore the full spectrum of palliative care

Grief support

Grief is a natural response to loss, and everyone experiences it in their own way. It can arrive at any point during an illness and after a loss, whether you're living with a serious illness or caring for someone who is. A palliative approach to care can support you by:

• providing emotional and practical support during illness and after a loss
• offering resources tailored for adults, youth, and children
• referring you to grief services that help you adjust to change and loss while finding comfort and meaning in life

Learn more at Grief support.

Myths and facts

Myth

Palliative care is only for the final weeks of life.

Fact

Palliative care can start at any age and stage of serious illness. A palliative approach to care can begin early and provide support alongside treatments. It helps manage symptoms, reduce stress, and improve quality of life over time, not just at the end.

Myth

Only palliative care specialists can provide palliative care.

Fact

A primary care team, which could include a family doctor, nurse and others, can provide a palliative approach to care from the time of diagnosis and throughout the course of the illness. People whose needs are more complex can be referred to palliative care specialists for more comprehensive care.

Myth

Palliative care means giving up.

Fact

Palliative care is not about giving up. It is active care that focuses on improving quality of life by managing symptoms and providing support alongside treatments that aim to cure or control the illness.

Myth

Palliative care is only available in hospitals.

Fact

Palliative care can be provided in many settings, including at home, in hospitals, hospices, shelters, long-term care, and community clinics.

Palliative care videos

Related links

• National, provincial and territorial resources