New Structures in Neurology: Palliative Care for Neurological Patients

AbstractAlthough patients with incurable neurological diseases suffer from a variety of distressing symptoms and may die from their neurological condition and associated complications, palliative and hospice care for these patients to date remains rare. Initial estimates indicate that on average 10% of all patients suffering from a neurological disease need palliative and hospice care. However, within German neurology departments, only few physicians (on average 1.3/department) and nurses (on average 2.2./department) are specialized in palliative and hospice care and only about 3% of patients cared for in palliative or hospice care structures suffer from neurological diseases (in contrast to the approximately 80% of patients suffering from oncological diseases). This rather low number is due to the gradual increase in the awareness of palliative and hospice care needs for neurological patients and a currently predominant supply of oncological patients in palliative and hospice care structures that are primarily aimed at these patients. Correspondingly, the special aspects of neurological patients are currently not adequately addressed in the palliative training curricula of healthc