Although the discipline of palliative care is new, it has rapidly
gained its place in other areas of medicine. The most important
reason for its fast development is that the provision of
the necessary care and treatment for incurable patients has acquired
increasing importance today. Palliative care considers
that dying is a natural process of life. The main aim of palliative
care services is to support both the patients and their family
during the patient's life and after their death. Support with
respect to possible physical and emotional problems should
also be offered. Developed countries like Germany have made
important progress with regard to palliative care applications.
If palliative care models implemented in such countries become
known in our country, it will aid their easier integration
into the health care system and also facilitate the process for
health professionals. For this purpose, palliative care offered
in Germany and its application into the health care system are
introduced in this review.
Keywords: Home care; Germany; palliative care; health systems
