Alberta Health Services
Health Information
Many people experience pain near the end of life, but it can almost always be managed effectively. Physical comfort is a key part of quality end-of-life care, and healthcare providers use a range of medicines and approaches to relieve pain and other symptoms.
Pain isn’t just physical – it can affect emotions and thoughts. Emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects of pain can be helped through counselling, support, or palliative care services. The goal is to ease suffering and help people feel comfortable, peaceful and respected in their final days.
Pain can often be managed effectively, allowing people to spend their final days with comfort, dignity, and peace.
Learn about medicines, treatments, and care options that can help reduce suffering and support comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
Palliative and end-of-life care help people feel more comfortable by easing pain and other symptoms. Hospice care is part of this support and is for people in the final stages of illness. It focuses on managing pain and providing emotional and spiritual care for both the person and their family.
