<unk>  (derived from the Latin root , or 'to cloak') is an interdisciplinary medical<unk> giving approach aimed at optimizing quality of life and mitigating suffering among people with serious, complex illnesses. Within the published literature, many definitions of<unk>  exist. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes<unk>  as "an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial, and spiritual." In the past,<unk>  was a disease specific approach, but today the WHO takes a more broad approach, that the principles of<unk>  should be applied as early as possible to any chronic and ultimately fatal illness.<unk>  is appropriate for individuals with serious illnesses across the age spectrum and can be provided as the main goal of<unk>  or in tandem with curative treatment. It is provided by an interdisciplinary team which can include physicians, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, chaplains, and dietitians.<unk>  can be provided in a variety of contexts, including hospitals, outpatient, skilled-nursing, and home settings. Although an important part of end-of-life<unk> ,<unk>  is not limited to individuals near the end of life. Evidence supports the efficacy of a<unk>  approach in improvement of a person's quality of life.<unk> 's main focus is to improve the quality of life for those with chronic illnesses. It is commonly the case that<unk>  is provided at the end of life, but it can be helpful for a person of any stage of illness that is critical or any age.
Palliative care
Hospice and palliative medicine
Drug rehabilitation
Functional medicine
Curative care
Photomedicine
Psychosurgery
Chronic care