What is holistic care in palliative care?
Holistic palliative care is an approach that focuses on the whole person, not just the medical condition and its physical symptoms. By addressing the physical, cultural, psychological, cognitive, social, and spiritual dimensions of wellbeing in an integrated and compassionate manner, holistic palliative care aims to promote comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients and their families throughout the journey of serious illness. This approach recognises that every individual is a whole person, deserving of integrated care that supports their needs and preferences.
Why is holistic care important?
For people living with a life-limiting illness, a holistic approach in palliative care takes on a deeper significance. A diagnosis doesn’t exist in isolation; it sits within the context of someone’s life: their values, the people they love, relationships they have, hobbies and other aspects that give their life meaning. Holistic care acknowledges all of that.
Palliative care is, by its very nature, holistic. From its foundations, it was developed not just to treat illness, but to tend to the whole person, body, mind, and spirit. It looks beyond the clinical picture to address the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of a person’s experience, recognising that each of these is inseparable from the other.
It also recognises that the person living with illness and their family should be at the centre of the care. Rather than decisions being made solely on medical grounds, holistic palliative care invites individuals to take an active and informed role in their care. A collaborative team of professionals works alongside them, not just to manage symptoms, but to support their needs and wishes at every stage of the journey.
The 5 Core Areas of Holistic Care in Palliative Care
Holistic palliative treatment is guided by five core areas, each addressing a different dimension of a person’s wellbeing.
- Physical needs – Refers to how physical symptoms (such as pain, weakness, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting) are managed to improve quality of life. Moreover, it identifies people’s physical strengths, their capacity to participate in care, and how life-limiting illnesses are diagnosed, prognosed, and treated.
- Cultural needs – Considers the profound influence of culture on individuals’ beliefs, values, preferences, and wishes. It acknowledges the diversity of cultural backgrounds and traditions among patients and their families, recognising that cultural norms and practices can significantly affect patients’ experiences of illness, death, and dying.
- Psychological and cognitive needs – Acknowledges the profound impact that serious illness can have on mental and emotional wellbeing. It assists individuals and their families by providing them with a safe space where they can identify and express their fears, anxieties, and grief. This includes identifying emotional support and accessing services, such as counselling, which may assist patients and families to deal with the challenges of illness and end-of-life. Additionally, people can access information and referrals regarding a variety of typical concerns (such as legal, ethical, and financial).
- Social needs – Encourages social connections and meaningful relationships to enhance wellbeing. It promotes open communication and collaboration among patients, families, caregivers, and the community. Additionally, this facilitates supported decision making and a sense of community support.
- Spiritual needs – Respects the diverse spiritual and existential beliefs of patients and their families. It addresses elements such as hope, uncertainty, purpose, loss, and transition. As a result, there is time and space for reflection, meaning, and spiritual support tailored to individual belief systems, practices, or a sense of belonging to a community of faith, as well as preparing for a funeral or celebration of life and making legacy wishes.
Honouring the whole person
By addressing each of these areas together, rather than in isolation, holistic palliative care honours the uniqueness of each individual. It is an approach built on the understanding that every person is whole and that the care they receive should reflect their unique values, needs, and preferences.
