Supportive and Palliative Approach to the Older Persons

In the majority of high-income settings, palliative care (PC) still relies on hospital care and palliative care specialists, while the involvement of other healthcare professionals, notably general practitioners (GPs), is undefined and incomplete. Moreover, to develop the full potential of palliative care, the participation of the public is needed, from patients’ associations and caregivers to health advocacy associations and to national health systems. For this to occur, the silent palliative care revolution must spread a palliative care culture among all stakeholders and participants in the care process. Fear of death, stigmatization of patients and their relatives when facing a complex disease like cancer or organ failure, or dementia, leads to palliative care being similarly stigmatized, neglected, or unacceptable. Early identification of patients for discussions of goals of care based on their needs and wishes is fundamental, keeping in mind that dying is a multidimensional process. GPs can play a pivotal role here, leading to improved quality of care and quality of life and in due course dying for both patients and caregivers.