Systems of Care in Crisis: The Changing Nature of Palliative Care During COVID-19

Among the far-reaching impacts of COVID-19 is its impact on care systems, the social and other systems that we rely on to maintain and provide care for those with “illness.” This paper will examine these impacts through a description of the influence on palliative care systems that have arisen within this pandemic. It will explore the impact on the meaning of care, how care is performed and identified, and the responses of palliative care systems to these challenges. It will also highlight the current and potential future implications of these dynamics within the unfolding crisis of this pandemic.