About the Awareness Campaign by Omega 90

Many people associate Palliative Care solely with the final days of life. We want to change that perception. Palliative Care begins much earlier, with one clear purpose: to support people and their loved ones from the moment they are diagnosed with a serious, incurable illness. It is not only about treating the disease, but also about seeing the person and their family as a whole, understanding their individual needs, concerns and circumstances.
Even when a disease can no longer be cured, it does not mean that nothing more can be done. On the contrary, the focus of care changes. Instead of aiming for a cure, Palliative Care focuses on relieving symptoms, preventing complications and providing the best possible support, enabling people to live fulfilling and self-determined lives despite their illness.

Palliative Care is not limited to people with cancer. It benefits children and adults living with a wide range of serious, progressive illnesses.

With this awareness campaign, Omega 90 aims to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions and change the way people think about Palliative Care. Because Palliative Care means so much more than waiting for death. It means living as well and as independently as possible, for as long as possible.

It means no pain

Pain and distressing symptoms should not be an inevitable part of living with a serious illness. Palliative Care is dedicated to relieving physical, emotional, social and spiritual suffering. Every person experiences pain differently and deserves care that respects their individual needs and circumstances.

When pain and other distressing symptoms are well managed, life opens up again. It becomes easier to take part in everyday life, spend meaningful time with family and friends, and enjoy the moments that bring strength and joy. Relieving pain helps preserve quality of life and enables people to live with dignity and self-determination for as long as possible.

It means humanity

Palliative Care places the person at the center of care. It means seeing the person before the illness, recognizing their life story, their personality, their wishes and everything that matters to them. It means listening, respecting individual choices and treating every person with dignity, compassion and respect.

Humanity is about more than medical care. It is reflected in genuine presence, attentive listening and the willingness to acknowledge fears, grief and uncertainty. Caring means walking alongside people with empathy and respect, helping them feel seen, heard and understood.

It means support

Palliative Care is about much more than medical care. It provides comfort and reassurance during a time often marked by uncertainty, change and many unanswered questions. Support means ensuring that people and their loved ones never have to face this journey alone. It means being there with professional expertise, time and genuine compassion.

Support includes the management of distressing symptoms as well as psychological, social and spiritual care. It means listening, addressing concerns, providing guidance and helping people find their way forward. Above all, support means seeing the whole person and giving them the confidence and reassurance that they do not have to walk this path alone.

It means being there

Being there means more than simply being present. It means listening without judgement, supporting without taking over, and walking alongside people with respect as they follow their own individual journey. Their needs, values and wishes always remain at the center of care.

Palliative Care is there for people living with a serious, incurable illness and their loved ones from the time of diagnosis, for as long as support is needed – whether at home, in a nursing home, in hospital or in a specialized care setting. It also continues to support families through bereavement. Being there means offering guidance, building trust and ensuring that no one has to face this journey alone.

"We cannot change the outcome, but we can affect the journey."

Ann Richardson

Palliative Care

The Principles of Palliative Care according to the World Health Organization (WHO)

Palliative Care aims to improve the quality of life of people living with a life-threatening illness and their families. It begins as early as possible in the course of the disease and helps to prevent and relieve suffering through the early identification, careful assessment and treatment of pain, as well as physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs.

Palliative Care:

  • relieves pain and other distressing symptoms 
  • affirms life and regards dying as a natural process
  • neither intends to hasten nor postpone death
  • addresses the psychological, social and spiritual needs of patients and their families
  • supports people in living as actively and independently as possible until the end of life
  • provides support to families throughout the illness and during bereavement
  • takes an interdisciplinary approach to meeting the diverse needs of patients and their loved ones
  • enhances quality of life and may also positively influence the course of the disease
  • can be introduced early in the course of an illness alongside curative or life-prolonging treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and includes the management of distressing symptoms and complications

About Omega 90

For more than 35 years, Omega 90 has been supporting people living with a serious, incurable illness and their loved ones in Luxembourg. Humanity, dignity and quality of life are at the heart of everything we do. Together with an interdisciplinary team and dedicated volunteers, we accompany people on their individual journey with professional expertise, respect and compassion.

In addition, Omega 90 is committed to the education and training of healthcare professionals and volunteers, as well as to raising public awareness of Palliative Care. Because Palliative Care is so much more than many people think. Talking openly about illness, dying, death and grief is part of life. It helps reduce fear, foster understanding and ensure that people facing difficult times receive the support they need.

Palliative Care means enabling people to live with dignity, self-determination and the best possible quality of life, for as long as possible. This is what we are committed to every day.

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