The concept of palliative care is mainly concerned with giving patients the best quality of life by:

• alleviating symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, depression or stressful circumstances in their personal life
• helping them identify objectives and wishes and thereby enabling them to remain independent for as long as possible
• helping with the planning of care and treatment, including in relation to emergency situations (emergency plan)  
• building a support network of professionals and relatives
• supporting the relatives and caregivers