Glossary

To administer a medication to reduce a person’s level of awareness or responsiveness, or to calm emotions.

A treatment that uses a medication to reduce a person’s level of awareness or responsiveness, or to calm emotions. This effect can also be a side effect of other treatments.

A type of medication used to relieve mental or physical suffering. The medication calms emotions or reduces a person’s level of awareness or responsiveness.

Unintentional symptom that occurs as a result of a treatment or medication.

Care that is designed to offer a person an opportunity to explore values, ideals, meaning and purpose.

A professional trained to provide spiritual companionship, who enters into the lives of the suffering and the dying. Often referred to as a chaplain in health care settings.

Suffering related to a sense of disconnectedness and alienation from one’s deeper self. A loss of meaning and value.

A religious leader of a faith or cultural community, such as an elder, priest, pastor, rabbi, imam, pandit, sensei, or master.

The core essence of self, reflected in the values and ideals that a person holds most closely. It addresses common human questions such as these:

• Who am I?
• Where do I come from?
• Why am I here?
• Where is the meaning and purpose in my life?
• How am I connected to others and to the world around me?

A type of medication used to shrink swelling and relieve inflammation that can cause pain. Steroids are useful in many pain situations, have anti-nausea properties, may improve appetite and can be used in low doses to alleviate fatigue. They can have side effects that need to be monitored by health care professionals. Requires a prescription. Not to be confused with steroids used to build muscle.