The goal of palliative care
The field of palliative care has grown rapidly in recent years. However, many people are confused about exactly what it is. Unlike hospice, palliative care is medical care, including treatment, for a longer period in a patient’s life. In fact, a patient with a chronic illness may receive palliative care for several years or as long as it is needed. Another key difference? Palliative care is a resource for anyone living with a serious illness – regardless of their long-term diagnosis.
Did you know?
Studies show when patients and families talk with health care providers about palliative care, nearly 90% say they would likely consider palliative care for themselves or a loved one. And patients and their family members who go on to use palliative care speak highly of its role in improving their quality of life.
If you’re heading on a road trip, what’s the first thing you do? More than likely, you add the address of your destination into GPS navigation, for example, your car's navigation system or Apple maps on your phone. Your GPS happily brings up the destination and tells you how to get there, how long it will take and what to expect along the way.
Think of palliative care as GPS for your serious illness. Your palliative care team will assist you in planning your care journey. In the same way you might rely on GPS to give you feedback on where to stop for gas, palliative care will help prepare you in advance for concerns that may come up.
Palliative care is also designed to guide you around the health “detours” that may feel hard to manage
For example, if you are diagnosed with cancer, you may find palliative care helpful for the following needs:
If you’re a patient or caregiver reading this, we applaud you for wanting to learn more. We understand the worry that comes with the advance of a serious illness and the anxiety that a conversation about palliative care may create. Taking advantage of palliative care provides relief for the patient and their family – knowing they are not on their health journey alone. In addition, palliative care assists patients in continuing their normal routines as much as possible.
Look for the following symbols throughout this website for help with:
- Definitions and details about how palliative care helps patients like you.
- Specific ideas for patients and their caregivers.
- Downloadable/printable guides for patients and caregivers to help organize your health journey.
- Tips for the emotional wellbeing of patients and caregivers.
Palliative care may be right for you if:
- You suffer from symptoms and stress due to a serious illness – for example, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, liver disease, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and more.
- No matter what your age, you are seeking both curative treatment and need relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of your illness.
- You would like to actively manage your medical care, seeking to improve communication with your care team, loved ones and additional treatment providers such as therapists.
- You desire coordinated care and better outcomes, including better management of your symptoms and higher quality of life while reducing the stress on your caregivers and families.