Palliative care is focused on relieving symptoms associated with the patient’s condition while receiving active treatment. You can receive palliative care at ANY time during an illness. Studies show both hospice and palliative care improve the quality of life and provide emotional and practical support. Palliative care is not end of life care! It is intended for those facing life-limiting/chronic illnesses in effort to better support them, assist with advanced care planning, and offers specialized care by a Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician. 

Palliative care is meant to reduce hospitalizations and provide quality care to patients with serious illnesses, irrespective of prognosis (any age/stage) by providing…

Complex Symptom Management 

Emotional and Spiritual Support for Patients and Families

Assistance with Difficult Medical Decision Making

Support for Referring Physicians and Plans of Care

Assistance with Coordination of Care (i.e. home/outpatient Palliative or transitions to Hospice Care)

Formally speaking, hospice care is that which can be provided to patients with a life expectancy of six months or less. Rather than seeking a cure, hospice care aims to make their remaining time with us as comfortable and as meaningful as possible. This may mean pain relief and nursing care, but also includes emotional support and help with everyday tasks.

Under this broader way of thinking about end of life care, the needs of family, friends, and caregivers are also considered. Hospice care recognizes that loved ones are also on a difficult journey and may benefit from support, expert advice, and services that we can provide.

Hospice care is reserved for terminally ill patients when treatment is no longer curative during the last 6 months of life, assuming the disease takes its normal course.

Palliative care can be employed while the patient is continuing active treatment through different phases of their life limiting condition.

Hospice care is most often provided in a patient’s home setting – regardless of whether it’s a house, apartment, nursing home, assisted living facility or other setting. Some hospices offer inpatient services in hospitals, hospice facilities, skilled nursing facilities, or assisted living facilities.

Palliative care is most often received in the home, apartment, or during a short-term hospital admission.

Palliative care is a broader philosophy that includes hospice care. Palliative Care can be used as a separate area of medical practice while the patient is receiving treatment.

Most insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, pay for palliative care.

As with hospice, palliative care aims to improve quality of life from every different angle. It can include the following goals:

* To keep pain to a minimum, using clinical methods.

* To treat symptoms and improve health where possible.

* To assist with education on mobility and safety.

* To allow meaningful interactions between patients and their friends, family, and community.

* To improve spiritual and emotional well-being through counselling, art and pet therapy programs, and more.

* To allow both patients and caregivers to understand and express their feelings at this most difficult of times.

* To ensure patients and caregivers understand what is happening and make informed, well-thought-through choices.

* To help reduce the sometimes-heavy burden on caregivers through training, respite care or everyday hands-on assistance.

In order to be as effective as possible, palliative care should start early in the care program- often, the earlier we can start, the more we can help. Making firm plans for care in advance can also help reduce worry and stress. If you or someone you care about might benefit from palliative care and you want to understand the options, talk to us. We are here for you.

The palliative care team works in partnership with other doctors to provide an extra layer of support for you and your family. The team provides expert symptom management, extra time for communication about your goals and treatment options and help navigating the health system.