Role of the physiotherapist in palliative care

Physiotherapists, whether trained in intensive care or internal medicine, must be attentive to patients at the end of their lives. Palliative-care physiotherapy requires basic training in rehabilitation techniques; the integration of a rehabilitation professional in a caregivers team; a profound communication with the patient, leading to an effective accompaniment and direct response to the patient's needs; and recognition of the patient's functional needs. The involvement of the physiotherapist can extend to the very end of life. In a series of 56 geriatric patients (35 suffering from cancer, 21 from other pathologic conditions) who died at the Center of Continuous Care, 44 (79%) had a treatment of respiratory physiotherapy until their last 24 hr.