Palliative Care Program

 

What is palliative care?

 

Palliative care is an area of healthcare that helps patients who are seriously ill maintain the best possible quality of life.  Palliate means to make less severe or more bearable.  Thus, palliative care is for those whose illness requires adequate information to make clear and rational decisions related to this illness or combination of illnesses.  The goal of palliative care is to keep patients as active as they can be so that they can cope with their illness.  Patients may receive palliative care while also receiving aggressive treatment for their illness.

 

• Provides emotional and spiritual support for patients.

• Educates patients, answers questions regarding patients’ rights.

• Assists with living wills and health care power of attorney issues; answers specific questions.

• Treats pain and other symptoms

• Coordinates care among specialists and others.

• Helps patients find and access services that they need outside hospitals or SNC.

• Helps physicians and hospital discharge planners to work with patients to prevent frequent hospital re-admissions and /or frequent ER visits.

• Supports families and caregivers.

 

Why palliative care?

 

Studies show that palliative care improves quality of life for seriously ill patients.  By offering expert medical, emotional, spiritual and practical support, palliative care helps patients feel better and remain more active and independent while living with an illness.

Palliative care is designed specifically to meet the needs and wishes of each patient and includes patients and their families in decisions about care.

 

Who is appropriate for palliative care?

 

Patients may be any age and in any stage of illness.  Anyone with a serious illness (such as heart and lung disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, or other long-term or advanced illness) can benefit from palliative care.

 

 

Who can refer patients for palliative care?

 

The patients’ physician, nurse, social worker, clergy, family member, or the patient himself may ask for a consultation or counseling session with the palliative care team.