Palliative Care Resources

FAQs

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is provided through in person consultations with palliative care experts and include telephone support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The palliative care team consists of Medical Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Social Workers, Spiritual Care providers and Volunteers as needed. Palliative services typically will include:

• Supportive visits that provide an ongoing assessment of the patient's status 
• Providing education about illness progression, management and strategies for living with advanced illness
• Pain and symptom management
• Encouraging active health care decision making and providing information on advanced care planning 
• Clarification of personal and family goals as well as communication/coordination with all of the patients providers 
• Medication management as directed by the patient’s attending Medical Doctor 
• Emotional, psychological and spiritual support as well as assistance with complex decision making
• Help identifying other community resources as needed. 

Who qualifies?

• Anyone who has a serious illness such as cancer, CHF, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, Dementia/Alzheimer’s, CVA, COPD, liver disease, renal disease, or HIV.

Where is care provided?

• Care is typically provided at the patient’s home or wherever the patient may call home such as an assisted living or nursing facility.

What about Chemotherapy, Radiation and Dialysis treatments?

• These treatments do not have to stop to receive Palliative care. Interventions such as chemotherapy, radiation and dialysis are able to be paired with palliative care services. Home health services or physical therapy can also paired with Palliative care. 

Is there a cost?

• Medicare and some private insurances can cover the cost of palliative care services. We will work with your insurance company for any costs or billing needs related to the services. As a non-profit organization, our mission is to be able to provide these services regardless of insurance.

Can I keep my Physician?

• Yes, you can. You will still be able to attend appointments with your regular doctors. Our goal is to streamline communication among your Primary Care Physician, Oncologist, and Cardiologist etc. We will work closely with your doctors on the management of your care while you cannot be in their clinics or offices.