The Important Emotional Support Learned at the End of Life - Care That Isn't "Final": Palliative Care and the Dialogue Opened by SNS to Protect QOL

Palliative care is not a "last resort" but rather a continuous form of medical care that enhances the current quality of life (QOL) and supports the emotions of both the patient and their family. Psycho-oncologists at MD Anderson emphasize the importance of shifting the focus back to the "present" to support anticipatory grief, avoiding the imposition of positivity, and caring for the entire family unit. On social media, experiences of anticipatory grief and home hospice care are shared, learning hashtags and awareness weeks are spreading, and a public sphere for discussing death and end-of-life care is developing. In clinical communication, it is effective to clearly convey the benefits, present options, and design dialogues that build upon each other. The essence of palliative care is not about "forcing happiness" but providing access to tranquility and helping individuals rediscover the subtle joys of everyday life.