What is Palliative Care
Palliative care helps people feel better by addressing physical, emotional and spiritual problems that may arise with a serious illness. Effective support begins with honest conversations about the patient's goals and priorities.
Palliative care at home, or wherever you call home, is available to patients of all ages and at any stage of a serious illness. It is not only for patients with a terminal condition. Learn the differences between palliative care and hospice.
Managing symptoms related to the palliative diagnosis
- Complex pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty sleeping
- Anxiety
- Other symptoms that lead to distress
Care also includes:
- Advanced care planning
- Spiritual care and medical social services
- Coordinating care that aligns with your values
Referrals for palliative care
If you or a loved one are concerned about complex symptoms related to a serious illness, you may benefit from an extra layer of support. Ask your doctor for a palliative care consultation. Medicare and many other types of insurance typically cover palliative care consultations.
Referrals are most common from these conditions:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- COPD and other lung diseases
- Kidney failure
- Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia
- Liver disease
- Parkinson's disease
- ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
- Eosinophil-Associated Disease (EAD)
- Huntington's disease
Contact us at a local location 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. We're here to listen and help you with care that fits your needs.