If a loved one has been diagnosed with an incurable illness, you may wonder when it is time to consider palliative care. When should someone be offered palliative care? How can it help them when there isn’t a cure for their illness anyway?
Those are all valid questions. Lots of people with a terminal condition, and their families, will be asking themselves the same things. In order to answer these questions, we should consider various options and palliative care benefits for people with an incurable illness, as well as their families and friends.
Palliative care looks after every part of the person – this is called holistic care. It’s not just about making sure that someone isn’t in pain. It aims to ensure that your loved one will have a good quality of life, even with a terminal diagnosis.
Palliative care is a type of specialised medical care for people living with a life-limiting condition. It focuses on symptom relief, emotional and spiritual support, and helping someone live well for as long as possible. It can be given at the same time as curative treatment, or after other medical treatments have stopped.
A typical palliative care team may include:
The goal is holistic support. That means taking care of the person's pain, mood, mobility, routine, and sense of dignity. Many people also find community resources and supportive care services helpful for practical day-to-day tasks.
Here are some common palliative care examples to give you a better picture:
There are five stages of palliative care, beginning from the moment your loved one receives their diagnosis:
Palliative care also includes end-of-life care, but receiving palliative care doesn’t mean that your loved one’s death is imminent. People of all ages can receive palliative care if they live with a life-limiting illness or chronic condition. You don’t need to be in a nursing home. It’s about managing quality, not just quantity.
You might be offered palliative care for:
The key is that the illness is not curable, but support can still make a big difference.
Even with an incurable illness, your loved one does not have to face unnecessary suffering. Palliative care services are designed to help manage symptoms and maintain comfort throughout all stages of a serious illness. Common challenges like pain, breathlessness, and fatigue can be addressed through a personalised plan.
Pain management or relief is often the first thing that comes to mind with palliative care. Whether it’s mild aches or severe discomfort, your loved one’s care team will look for the least invasive way to provide symptom relief.
Options include:
Effective pain management can prevent multiple hospitalisations and improve daily life. Carers can assist with medication reminders, refills, or administration support at home.
Some people experience side effects from their painkillers, including nausea, constipation, and drowsiness. Your loved one’s palliative care team can advise about the best ways to avoid side effects – this may involve taking medication to protect the stomach, or making diet changes.
Pain medication may be given in several ways, including pills, liquid medication, patches, or with a syringe driver, which can be inserted in the arm or abdomen. Your loved one’s palliative care team will try and find the least invasive way to provide them with effective pain medication.
Home care workers can support your loved one with pain management, whether this involves simple reminders about taking medication or helping to administer it.
Sickness can result from either the medical condition or other treatments. Your GP or palliative care team might prescribe anti-sickness medication (sometimes called anti-emetics).
Your loved one’s home carer can help by regularly offering small meals or snacks, as well as food that helps with sickness, such as ginger.
When food tastes change or appetite drops, carers can offer:
Constipation or diarrhoea, often side effects of medical treatments, can also be managed with advice from palliative care specialists.
Shortness of breath may be caused by a chronic condition, such as COPD or late-stage heart failure. Carers and occupational therapists can support with:
These adjustments help avoid unnecessary stress and provide practical symptom management.
Many people receiving palliative care feel very tired. This can be for a few reasons:
Your loved one’s palliative care team may be able to help if they are so tired that they are finding it hard to do the things that interest them. This may involve changing their medication or dosage, or encouraging some new treatment options.
For people who are experiencing extreme fatigue, a home carer can be very useful. They can help your loved one by preparing meals, supporting them to bathe or shower, and offering assistance with housework.
They can also support your loved one with gentle exercise and preparing a good sleep routine, including taking pain medication regularly.
Living with a life-limiting or terminal illness can take a toll emotionally. It’s not just the person receiving care who may feel overwhelmed—family members often feel it too.
Emotional wellbeing is an essential part of the palliative care aims. It's about maintaining dignity, autonomy, and connection.
Grief, fear, and guilt are common. Tiggo Care understands this and offers:
Support is not limited to the person with the diagnosis—it’s a family journey.
Your GP or specialist doctors might recommend palliative support when it’s clear your loved one has a life-limiting illness and their condition is unlikely to improve. But being offered palliative care doesn’t mean it’s the end.
Doctors refer people because:
Many people still receive active medical care, like chemotherapy or physiotherapy, while under palliative support.
The interdisciplinary team—including your GP, palliative care specialist, and any other providers—works together to coordinate comfort, care planning, and emotional support at every stage of a serious condition.
Many people choose to receive palliative care at home. It can be more comforting than being in a hospital or assisted living facility, especially when someone is nearing the end of their life.
Here's what to expect when care is provided in your own home:
Care at home allows for dignity, privacy, and familiar surroundings. It also makes it easier for family members to stay involved and informed.
If you're unsure where to begin, Tiggo Care can provide a full assessment to help you begin treatment that matches your needs.
Hospice and palliative care both focus on providing relief for people with a life-limiting condition. But there are key differences:
Start date:
Breadth of care:
Location:
Care personnel:
Some people receive palliative care for years. Others transition into hospice care when all other therapies have stopped.
Palliative care doesn’t mean giving up—it means choosing quality, dignity, and thoughtful support. Whether you need practical help, emotional support, or symptom control, this type of care can bring enormous relief to both the person and their loved ones.
At Tiggo Care, we offer personalised palliative care across London, helping people remain in their own homes for as long as possible. Whether you’re looking for advice, assistance, or a full care team, we’re here to guide you through every step of your care journey.
Contact us today for a care consultation and find out how we can support you.
Palliative care is offered to people with an incurable illness or condition. It’s holistic, which means that it supports someone as a whole. People receiving palliative care may have counselling or therapies to help them cope emotionally. They may also receive support from occupational therapists or home carers so that they can live well in their own home, in addition to symptom management.
You may need palliative care if you’re living with a chronic illness or a serious illness that cannot be cured. It can begin early—sometimes at diagnosis—and doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll stop other treatments. The focus is on improving quality of life while still addressing your goals and comfort.
People with a life-limiting condition, frequent hospital stays, or ongoing symptoms that affect daily activities should be considered. Palliative care aims to reduce discomfort, offer emotional support, and help with planning ahead. Your GP or healthcare team may suggest it when curative options are limited.
The five stages of palliative care begin from the time your loved one receives a diagnosis. They are: initial assessment and planning, emotional preparation, early-stage care, late-stage or end-of-life care, and bereavement support. Your loved one’s home care agency can help you navigate all of these stages.
Get in touch with Tiggo Care today to see how we can help you or your loved one.
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