by your side
care
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines palliative care as a comprehensive approach that aims to improve the quality of life of patients and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness.
This is achieved through the prevention and relief of pain, as well as through the early identification, assessment and treatment of physical, psychological and social problems. Palliative care is patient-centered and is provided when an illness progressively worsens and no longer responds to curative treatment. The focus shifts from disease control to holistic patient support.
Palliative care is applied to patients with cancer, progressive neurological and neuromuscular diseases such as multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, paraplegia and quadriplegia, as well as to individuals in the advanced stages of cardiac, respiratory or renal failure, severe pulmonary disease, and serious rheumatic or autoimmune conditions.
Philosophy of Palliative Care
Despite significant advances in medical diagnosis and treatment, some patients face painful and often irreversible conditions in which palliative care plays a vital role.
Palliative care does not replace the primary medical treatment plan; rather, it complements it by relieving symptoms and improving quality of life.
Being treated with dignity is a fundamental human right, regardless of the stage of illness. Respectful care—especially during advanced stages of disease and end-of-life care—is a core principle of palliative care. Through this approach, patients do not feel abandoned nor perceive themselves as a burden to their families.
Objectives of Palliative Care
Palliative care, which may be initiated at early stages of a progressive illness, aims to:
● Relieve pain and other distressing symptoms
● Improve quality of life and, in some cases, positively influence disease progression
● Neither hasten nor postpone death
● Accept death as a natural process
● Support patients in living as actively as possible
● Provide a support system for families during illness and bereavement
● Help patients understand, accept and manage their condition
● Offer continuous psychological and emotional support
Palliative Care at Armonia
Participation in a palliative care program does not mean that a patient has given up on life or has been abandoned. On the contrary, palliative care supports individuals in living with dignity, comfort and autonomy by effectively managing pain and other distressing symptoms.
At Armonia Rehabilitation Center, we stand by patients and their families at every stage of illness, regardless of its difficulty. Our focus is on symptom relief, dignity, autonomy and improving overall quality of life. To achieve this, Armonia’s multidisciplinary team collaborates closely to deliver comprehensive, compassionate care.
Armonia is the most reliable and specialized rehabilitation center in Thessaloniki, offering all necessary medical services and a wide range of treatments, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and hydrotherapy, provided by highly qualified professionals in modern, fully equipped facilities.