Palliative Care is a growing medical practice specialty, however the level of physical therapist involvement and the particular roles for physical therapy in this evolving discipline are relatively unknown.~The purpose of this study was to explore emerging physical therapy practice in palliative care, and the perceptions of physical therapists regarding their care of the functionally dependent elderly, including the role and utilization of palliative care intervention in current practice, goal-setting practices which may relate to palliative care, and therapists' awareness of cultural and psychosocial issues in patient care.
The purpose of this study is to explore emerging physical therapy practice in palliative care, and the perceptions of physical therapists regarding their care of the functionally dependent elderly, including: (1) the role and utilization of palliative care intervention in current practice, (2) current and potential goal-setting practices which may relate to palliative care, and (3) therapists' awareness of cultural and psychosocial issues in patient care.