Palliative Care and Hospice Care - Heart Failure

Course overview

When heart failure occurs, the heart no longer provides adequate oxygen and nutrients to the bodily organs and tissues. Heart failure is a chronic, debilitating, progressive and deadly disease that has an impact on the patient, as well as the patient's family members and health care team. The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for patients with an incurable advanced disease, as well as to help family members cope with the issues and emotions that arise when a family member is seriously ill. Palliative care is an interdisciplinary approach that assists with system management, self-help, pain control, psychological and spiritual support. The end goal of palliative care is to provide the patient with the best possible quality of life for as long as possible.