Palliative Rehabilitation: The Essence of Personalized Care
Patients with advanced life limiting illnesses experience the symptom burden of varying severity through the continuum of their illness trajectory. These symptoms negatively impact and impair the normal functioning of the individual.[1] This ongoing impairment in normal functioning leads to debility, if left unaddressed disables the patient due to increased dependency, psychological distress, neurological and musculoskeletal deconditioning. Progressive disease leads to a cluster of new symptoms such as pain, fatigue, dyspnea culminating in further decline in performance status, decreased activity of daily living (ADL) and significant reduction in the quality of life (QOL) of patients and caregivers.[2] The importance of comprehensive medical care has been established well, with the two critical components of personalized care being palliation and rehabilitation. At the outset, it may seem the most unlikely combination palliative care being commonly associated with care of patients with life limiting illness and dying, while rehabilitation being commonly associated with recovery and full functionality. The relevance of integrating both the specialties as part of the interdisciplinary team is evident from the ethos governing both the services at improving the comfort and functionality,[3] in keeping with the personal goals of patients and family.
Indian journal of palliative care