Which statement best describes palliative care for a patient with end-stage cancer receiving home care?

Which statement best describes palliative care for a patient with end-stage cancer receiving home care?

• A. Mrs. Lin will be kept comfortable and free from pain.
• B. Enteral feeds will be started to prevent starvation and malnutrition.
• C. Interventions will be focused only on the needs of Mrs. Lin.
• D. Services by the team terminate at the death of Mrs. Lin.

Answer: (A)

Palliative care centers on relieving pain and other distressing symptoms to preserve the patient’s comfort and dignity, especially at the end of life, and it includes support for the family as part of holistic care in the home setting. The statement that best fits this approach is that Mrs. Lin will be kept comfortable and free from pain, because controlling physical suffering is the core goal of palliative care at home. In end-stage cancer, interventions like starting enteral feeding to prevent starvation are not typically pursued if they would add burden without meaningful benefit to comfort or quality of life. Focusing only on the patient’s needs ignores the substantial role and needs of family and caregivers in home care. And services do not end at death; the team provides ongoing support through the dying process and often offers bereavement support to the family afterward.

Palliative care centers on relieving pain and other distressing symptoms to preserve the patient’s comfort and dignity, especially at the end of life, and it includes support for the family as part of holistic care in the home setting. The statement that best fits this approach is that Mrs. Lin will be kept comfortable and free from pain, because controlling physical suffering is the core goal of palliative care at home. In end-stage cancer, interventions like starting enteral feeding to prevent starvation are not typically pursued if they would add burden without meaningful benefit to comfort or quality of life. Focusing only on the patient’s needs ignores the substantial role and needs of family and caregivers in home care. And services do not end at death; the team provides ongoing support through the dying process and often offers bereavement support to the family afterward.