What is Palliative Care?

Palliative Care- A Holistic Approach

Palliative care is a holistic approach to meeting the unique needs of patients with serious illness. It is specialized medical care which focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness-no matter the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Where is Palliative Care Provided?

Conducted in your residence, this specially designed service provides relief from pain or other symptoms associated with a serious illness — whatever the diagnosis, at any age and stage of an illness. This can include treating nausea related to chemotherapy or something as simple as morphine to treat the pain of broken leg or ibuprofen to treat aching related to an influenza (flu) infection.

Palliative care is a holistic approach to meeting the unique needs of patients with serious illness. It helps alleviate symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, depression, anxiety, grief, and difficulty sleeping and helping people gain the strength to carry on with daily life. It also improves the ability to tolerate medical treatments and helps people have more control over their care with better understanding of their choices for treatment options.

What About Insurance Coverage?

Costs for palliative care treatments are generally covered by Medicare, Medicaid or commercial and secondary insurers.

Who Provides Palliative Care?

Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other medical specialists who work together with a patient’s medical support staff to provide an additional level of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage of a serious illness. It is usually provided alongside curative treatment.

Symptom Management

It helps alleviate symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, depression, anxiety, grief, and difficulty sleeping.

Assists in Tolerating Other Treatments

Palliative care can help people gain the strength to carry on with daily life. It also improves the patient’s ability to tolerate medical treatments and helps them have more control over their care. Palliative care treatment staff help patients and their families to better understand their treatment options and choices.