What is the primary goal of end-of-life care?

The primary goal of end-of-life care is to provide comfort and support while focusing on the patient's wishes. This approach centers around the understanding that individuals at the end of life often prioritize quality of life over the extensions of life. By emphasizing comfort, care teams aim to alleviate pain and distress, ensuring the patient can spend their remaining time in dignity and peace.

End-of-life care integrates considerations of the emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of the patient, allowing their preferences to guide treatment decisions. This can include palliative care measures that are designed to relieve suffering rather than to cure disease. Listening to and respecting the wishes of the patient, including their values and goals for care, is a fundamental aspect of this end-of-life approach, placing emphasis on what matters most to the individual during such a critical time.