This free online caregiving course explains how to ease the suffering of people with serious and terminal illnesses.

Palliative care takes a comprehensive approach to patient care and prioritizes the dignity, autonomy and comfort of those dealing with life-threatening illnesses. Its main goal is to enhance patients' and their families' quality of life by preventing and alleviating suffering. This caregiving course teaches you the philosophy behind palliative care and explores its physical, psychological and social aspects. We also discuss the importance of effective communication skills and decision-making in palliative care.

Ethical dilemmas in palliative care emerge from competing factors of medical options, patient autonomy and the difficult realities that come with serious and terminal illnesses. We examine various ethical dilemmas in palliative and end-of-life care and outline their key characteristics to provide effective strategies you can use to navigate these situations ethically. We emphasize the significance of advance directives, which are these legal documents that express an individual's medical treatment preferences, for example ‘do not resuscitate’ (DNR) directives. The course provides insight into practical and systematic palliative care techniques, which include advanced care planning and collaborative approaches.

We designed this course for healthcare providers, social workers, hospice workers and anyone involved in the care of individuals with life-limiting illnesses. Prerequisite knowledge and expertise are optional to take this course. This caregiving course provides comprehensive guidelines for professionally managing patients who require palliative care in home or hospital settings. We explain how to become the caring, knowledgeable and indispensable palliative care professional you've always aspired to be. Sign up to learn how to protect the dignity and quality of life of people with serious and terminal illnesses.