Palliative Care Strategy for HIV and other diseases - FHI 360

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Palliative care is also recognized as a right. According to the 1966 International Covenant
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), all people with severe illness have the
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right to palliative care.
FHI promotes and supports a model of comprehensive care, treatment, and support for
HIV. Providing HIV care to PLHIV and their families requires a broad range of services that
Table 1. Palliative care interventions
Palliative Care Interventions
General
Physical
Emotional
Social
Spiritual
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Holistic clinical or lay assessment of physical, emotional, social,
and spiritual needs of the patient and his or her family
System of referrals to link clients to services that can help address
problems identified
Assessment, prevention, and treatment of pain
Assessment, prevention, and treatment of other symptoms
Assessment and treatment of medication side effects
Teaching self-care skills for managing symptoms and medicine
side effects in the home and recognition of danger signs
Attending to physical needs during end-of-life
General counseling and emotional support
Treatment of psychiatric problems such as depression or anxiety
Self-help groups
Care of caregivers (lay and professional providers and family):
support groups, counseling
Bereavement support, counseling to help families with grief and
future planning
Help with managing stigma and discrimination
Support with legal issues such as preparing a will
Assistance with financial and other material needs such as
nutrition, housing, and education
Spiritual counseling
Life-review counseling
Funeral and other life-completion tasks