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About Our Work: Palliative Care (Last Updated: January 2005) |
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Palliative care is a holistic approach that begins with the
diagnosis of HIV infection and continues throughout the course of this chronic
condition. Palliative care is complementary to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and
becomes increasingly important as the disease progresses. The need for
palliative care services, and the types of services needed, changes due to the
progressive and fluctuating nature of HIV disease and the evolving needs of the
individual and the family.
Building on earlier definitions of palliative care developed
by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the World Health
Organization (WHO), the Global AIDS Program (GAP) supports expansion of an
interdisciplinary approach to palliative care which includes the following
interventions to relieve physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering:
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routine clinical monitoring and management of HIV/AIDS
complications;
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opportunistic infection prevention and treatment;
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management of opportunistic cancers;
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management of neurological and other diseases associated with
HIV/AIDS;
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symptom diagnosis and relief;
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social support, including organization of basic necessities
such as nutrition, financial assistance, legal aid, housing;
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mental health care and support;
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support for caregivers;
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bereavement support for family members.
The palliative care services provided and the availability of
caregivers varies by country and region. However, in all cases, an emphasis is
placed on the need for a team approach that provides services in a variety of
settings, including health care facilities, the community, and the home.
GAP's goal is to provide, strengthen, and expand care and
treatment services for people suffering from HIV/AIDS, building on the strengths
of each community. Several countries, including Uganda, South Africa, Kenya,
Malawi, and Thailand, have national AIDS plans that include protocols and
support for palliative care. GAP works closely with ministries of health in
these countries to achieve the host countries' goals.
In countries where national palliative care policy is still
in development, GAP works with partners to support a continuum of care that
includes palliative care, such as training lay health workers for home-based
care and strengthening service coordination for persons living with AIDS.
Palliative Care & Medical Management: Best provided
hand-in-hand
People receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) are coping with
a chronic rather than a terminal disease. Palliative care in concert with
medical management should be a goal for the standard of care for all
HIV-infected persons.
GAP Thailand's palliative care program includes bereavement
care being provided by hospice programs - an example of end-of-life services.
Services provided to patients and families affected by HIV
include strengthening the network of organizations that provide medical,
psychosocial, spiritual, and end-of-life services.
More
in-depth information about GAP's palliative care strategy
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