End-of-life palliative care: who is eligible?

General palliative care is offered at different stages of the illness, as soon as the need for relief of physical, psychological or existential suffering is identified or requested.

Access to end-of-life palliative care is based on the assessment of the needs of patients, who face difficult-to-manage symptoms and a limited vital prognosis.

Patients’ relatives also benefit from the necessary support, guidance and respite during the care pathway, whether it is general palliative care or end-of-life care.

Palliative care can be provided whenever a person with a serious and incurable illness requires it. One of the most common criteria is the need to have a diagnosis, and patients with the most urgent needs are usually prioritized. However, each palliative care service, whether at home or in an institution, has its own criteria for admitting a patient.