Palliative care is specialized healthcare. It is intended for people whose illness, whether severe and/or incurable, can cause intense suffering. Its goal is to promote the well-being and quality of life of these patients, regardless of their stage of illness . It also aims to provide support to family and caregivers. Essential components of its intervention include symptom relief, psychological, spiritual, and emotional support for the patient, family support, and support during bereavement. This requires the involvement of a properly qualified interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, and psychologists, often with the collaboration of other professionals and volunteers. This healthcare is not intended solely for elderly patients or cancer patients. Diseases such as serious neurological conditions (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, and Parkinson's disease), strokes, and chronic organ failure (e.g., heart, kidney, or liver) often require palliative care. Palliative care teams can support patients and their families for weeks, months, or even years, not just during the terminal phase of their illnesses . This brings many benefits to patients and their families and does not shorten their lives. Receiving palliative care is not synonymous with dying. The Palliative Care Unit at Hospital da Luz Lisboa was a pioneer in Portugal . Operating since the hospital's inception in 2007, it has its own specialized physical space and human resources and consists of single and double rooms, all with private bathrooms. It receives patients directly from abroad (from home or other institutions) or through referrals from other healthcare professionals, after prior contact with the team. It is dedicated to the treatment and clinical supervision of patients in complex situations of suffering associated with serious and/or incurable and progressive diseases. In these contexts, acute episodes often occur, which the Hospital da Luz palliative care team, framing them within the patient's underlying situation, treats and supervises. To achieve its goals, this team works closely with all services at Hospital da Luz Lisboa and the entire Hospital da Luz network. The team also provides support to patients admitted to other hospital services, is responsible for outpatient consultations, and is dedicated to training and research in expertise. The Palliative Care Unit at Hospital da Luz Lisboa meets the quality criteria of the Portuguese Association of Palliative Care, by which it is recognized. It was the first Unit in Portugal to be recognized in 2011 as an ESMO Designated Center of Excellence in Palliative Care and Oncology by the European Society of Medical Oncology, a distinction it maintains today . Coordination of the Palliative Care Unit: Dr. Isabel Galriça Neto; Nurse Nélia Trindade .
