Palliative care, kézako? The French Society for Support and Palliative Care (SFAP) defines them as “acute care delivered in a comprehensive approach to the person suffering from a serious, progressive or terminal illness”. Their objective ? “They strive to preserve the best possible quality of life until death and offer support to bereaved relatives.”
“Depending on the patient’s wishes and the capacity of those around them, palliative care is provided in an institution or at home and place of residence (retirement home, long-stay)” specifies the SFAP.
End of life in hospital or at home, what is the best solution? Scientists are leaning more towards the second option: thus, according to a Japanese study published in April 2016, palliative care practiced at home would promote an increase in life expectancy in patients suffering from cancer. In addition, according to an American study published in February 2017, an end of life at home would reduce stress and the number of hospitalizations.
A national plan to improve palliative care in France
Despite 157 Palliative Care Units (USP) scattered throughout France (including 31 in the Paris region, 30 in the south-east of the country and 24 in Hauts-de-France), France is lagging behind: according to In the 2015 ranking of The Economist Intelligence Unit (which annually assesses the “quality of death index” in 80 countries), it is in the United Kingdom that palliative care is the most qualitative. In 2015, France was in tenth place in the ranking, behind Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
To improve the situation of palliative care in France, the former Minister of Health Marisol Touraine launched the 2015-2018 National Plan for the development of palliative care and end-of-life support: this one had the main objectives reduce inequalities in access to palliative care (in medical deserts, for example), improve training for professionals, promote home support for patients and provide better information to patients.
Source: French Society for Support and Palliative Care (SFAP)
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