By Dr. Mrs. Prasanna Menon
Gynaecologist | Geriatrician | Palliative Care Physician
Palliative care is often misunderstood as care meant only for the end of life. In reality, it is a comprehensive approach focused on comfort, quality of life, and dignity, and it can be offered at any age and at any stage of illness.
What Does Palliative Care Truly Mean?
Palliative care primarily emphasizes comfort care, but it can also be curative and supportive. It is not limited to hospice or terminal care. Patients recovering from illnesses or surgeries, as well as those requiring long-term supportive nursing care, can benefit greatly from palliative services.
We care for patients with conditions such as stroke, dementia, fractures, post-surgical recovery, and cancer, including end-of-life care. Palliative care spans a wide spectrum — from recovery and rehabilitation to comfort-focused care during the final stages of life.
A Holistic Approach to Healing
The core aim of palliative care is to relieve suffering and enhance comfort using every appropriate means available. This may include:
Allopathy
Homeopathy
Ayurveda and Siddha
Yoga and relaxation techniques
Music and supportive therapies
Any method that helps bring comfort and peace to the patient can be used as a valuable supportive tool. Even when a cure is not possible, it is always possible to ensure comfort, happiness, and dignity.
Care Through Collaboration
Effective palliative care relies on teamwork. Every patient’s condition is discussed in detail by a multidisciplinary team to ensure the best possible quality of life.
In critical situations, hospital-based treating doctors help families understand the right time to seek palliative care, ensuring a smooth and supportive transition.
Life, Dignity, and Compassion
Life may be long or short, but what truly matters is how it is lived. A life filled with love, respect, compassion, dignity, and happiness is a life well lived.
In palliative care, we believe that every soul deserves to be nourished — with good food, kind thoughts, meaningful actions, and unconditional care — until the very last breath. Above all, each person should feel loved and valued.
Spreading Awareness
We remain committed to spreading awareness about palliative care through regular sharing of educational content, including articles, audios, and videos, to help families make informed decisions.
Palliative care is not about giving up.
It is about living with comfort, dignity, and compassion — always.
