Narrative review of home care for palliative patients in general practice

Abstract

In 2019, the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) presented for adoption and signing some very important documents, among which “New definition for Palliative Care”, “Letter for National Palliative Care Advocates” (which was designated to be sent to government lead on Universal Health coverage, and UN negotiations) and “Suggested language changes to zero draft ‘Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage’”—“Universal Health Coverage: Moving Together to Build a Healthier World”. They are devoted to the constantly growing need of palliative care in addition to the diagnostics and treatment, and are essential part of the care both for the patients with chronic incurable life-threatening diseases (especially with serious health-related suffering) and their families. As the home is the natural place of illness, general practitioners (GPs) should be prepared and involved in the palliative care spectrum of activities. The authors present some aspects of the home-based care while focusing on some problems and challenges, and making comparison with some specific issues for palliative home-care. The overview of the new policies and documents for palliative care reveals the ultimate importance of “universal access to high-quality palliative care, integrated into all levels of health care systems in a continuum of care with disease prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment, to assure that any patient’s or family caregiver’s suffering is relieved to the greatest extent possible” and the key role of GPs in it.