Compassionate Care as a Cancer Rehabilitation Guide for those Transitioning from Supportive to Palliative Care

During the pandemic, cancer screening was delayed resulting in the identification of more advanced cancers than typical; and this trend is expected to continue. Rehabilitation providers are anticipating that there may be more individuals admitted to inpatient rehabilitation units with more advanced cancer; initially wanting restorative or supportive care but later realizing they want palliative. Within this symposium, we will a) provide support for a palliative approach for those with advanced cancer, b) teach strategies for identifying patients and their caregivers who may want to transition from supportive approach to palliative, and c) provide opportunities to apply compassionate care strategies when having these difficult discussions. This will be accomplished by discussing the similarities and differences among restorative, supportive and palliative approach, teaching compassionate care strategies and providing case examples. Attendees will be given opportunities to discuss case scenarios and practice using compassionate care strategies within these scenarios.