Palliative care needs are everywhere

Palliative care and neurology: a path to neuropalliativism

This article aims to expand the understanding of how it is possible to alleviate suffering and enable a dignified life trajectory for patients with progressive neurological diseases or with severe and permanent neurological impairment. The four most common disease trajectories described for people with chronic and progressive disease used to advance care planning, Brazilian normative ethical resolutions, evidence-based benefits of palliative care (PC), as well as particularities of PC in neurology, such as neurological symptom control, caring for existential and psychological suffering, care provider's needs and particularities of pediatric neurologic PC are reviewed.

End-of-life and hospice care for neurologic illness

Systems for end of life care around the world vary in availability, structure, and funding. When available, most end of life care is in the hospice model with an interdisciplinary team approach to care of people who are expected to die within months and whose primary goal is to maximize quality of life. Symptom management near the end of life is guided by prognosis and individual priorities. People dying with neurologic disease are likely to have impaired communication or mobility that adds to the complexity of prognostication and symptom management. Neurologic specialists have important roles to play in end of life care due to their unique understanding of disease prognosis as well as end of life symptom burden and management. Neurologic specialists need to become strong advocates for the importance of end of life care by being actively involved in the hospice movement and by addressing current disparities in access to care.

The neuropalliative multidisciplinary team-Members and their roles

Neurodegenerative conditions are prominent contributors to both morbidity and mortality worldwide. They pose a significant challenge to health professionals, health systems, and the often unpaid, untrained family members and carers. The many and varied challenges encountered are best managed by a multidisciplinary neuropalliative team, as it is impossible for a single clinician to possess and deliver the wide range of skills and services required to optimally care for these patients. This chapter discusses the assembly, maintenance, and care of such a team, as well as potential difficulties and solutions in domains such as funding, training, geographical remoteness, as well as the potential lack of awareness and acceptance by colleagues. A comprehensive description of the role of all possible team members is discussed. The chapter outlines the concept, content, and potential benefits of a multidisciplinary team in neuropalliative care. Its thesis is twofold: that multidisciplinary care is vital and, second, that the sum of the whole of a team can be greater than the individual parts with respect to organization, planning, experience, and creativity of approach. With all these factors considered, and implemented wherever possible, we may all move closer to optimizing the comfort and care of our shared neuropalliative patients.