Palliative Care

What is palliative care?

Palliative care is a special kind of care for people who have a serious medical issue. It focuses on relieving pain and other symptoms while addressing the psychological, emotional and spiritual needs of you, your family members and caregivers.

The goal of palliative care is to provide the best quality of life for critically or chronically ill individuals by ensuring your comfort and dignity. It is not disease- or age-specific. Palliative care benefits any individual with an advanced disease or life-changing condition and is appropriate for patients of all ages, from infant to elderly.

What's the difference between palliative care and hospice care?

Palliative care is focused on relief of pain and other symptoms while addressing the psychological, social, cultural, emotional and spiritual needs of you and your family. Palliative care is a long-term solution for chronic illnesses – it goes beyond senior care and home care because it's provided to people of all ages at a variety of different locations.

Hospice care, on the other hand, is intended for patients who have a life expectancy of 6 months or less.

What are the benefits of palliative care?

• Better understanding of your condition and your choices for medical care
• Emotional support for you and your family
• Relief from distressing symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and troubled sleep
• Improved ability to carry on with your daily life

Who provides palliative care?

A typical palliative care team includes a physician, social worker, spiritual counselor, pharmacist, nurses and specialists. If needed, a therapist, dietitian or Home Health Aide may be added to your team as well.

Where can I receive palliative care?

Palliative care is not just provided in the home or hospital – it can be provided in many different places, including assisted living facilities. Your palliative care team can offer care in whichever living environment you're most comfortable.

How is palliative care paid for?

There are three ways to pay for palliative care services:

1. Private or out-of-pocket payment
2. Private insurance
3. Medicare or Medicaid

Keep in mind not all private insurances cover palliative care services. Medicare and Medicaid also have specific requirements that must be met before they will pay for palliative care.

To hear about your funding options for palliative care, call us at (800) 862-2201.

Is palliative care an option for me?

Talk to your doctor about palliative care, or contact us to learn more about our Palliative Care Program. To get more information or book a consultation, call (800) 862-2201 or fax at (414) 385-8959. This fax line is monitored 7:00am – 7:00pm, Monday-Friday and 7:00am-430pm Saturday and Sunday. During other hours, please fax to (414) 290-2850..