Focusing on providing relief, palliative care is a specialised care where symptoms and stress of illnesses are taken care of by improving the quality of life for the patient and their family. It is one of the important aspects of comprehensive care that goes beyond just addressing end-of-life needs. Palliative care can be incorporated at any stage of the illness, despite the widespread belief that it is just for those nearing the end of their lives. But the question is when to choose palliative care.

Even though palliative care can be opted for at any stage of illness or diagnosis, it can be considered at the early stage of illness. Providing physical, emotional, and spiritual care, early integration guarantees that patients and their families receive support in addition to therapeutic treatments. It becomes especially helpful when the patients become chronically ill or have prognoses with unknown symptoms. Palliative care provides a significant care plan.

They are also solutions when the transition from a curative form of treatment to comfort-focused, palliative care becomes essential. This shift can happen as a condition worsens or when a patient chooses to put more emphasis on enhancing their quality of life rather than pursuing aggressive treatments. Apart from these, when the palliative care providers work collaboratively, if the patients have other complex symptoms like distress, pain, or even shortness of breath, These are focused on the individualised and tailored care plans that are created based on the unique needs and preferences of the patients, which address all the issues like physical, emotional, social, and physiological well-being and enhance overall comfort for the patient and their family.

Considering all these, choose a multidisciplinary team of palliative care providers, which includes a team of physicians, social workers, nurses, therapists, etc. It is because a team with effective communication provides coordinated primary care with seamless collaboration, addressing both palliative and curative aspects. Choose the care providers who provide care based on accessibility, availability, and flexibility based on in-home and telehealth options, which enhance the quality of the patient's family.

To sum up, palliative care can be opted for at the initial diagnosis of an illness or even during the ongoing process. The palliative care providers focus on providing individualised and tailored support, prioritising the effectiveness of care, and coordinating with the patient’s primary care team to provide compassionate care.