In what situations might a palliative care unit be an option?

Palliative care units are hospital departments dedicated to symptom management. In cases of particularly severe or persistent symptoms (such as excessive salivation, spasticity, pain, or shortness of breath), outpatient care (with doctor’s appointments at longer intervals) may not be sufficient.

In this situation, admission to a hospital with a palliative care unit may be appropriate. Some hospitals have also established neurological palliative care units. A distinctive feature of palliative care units is the availability of a palliative care team consisting of specialized physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and social workers. In addition to the palliative care team’s qualifications, the “staff-to-patient ratio” is also designed to accommodate the greater time demands of palliative care.

Treatment in a palliative care unit is temporary and usually lasts 7–14 days.