For Patients and Loved Ones
What Matters to You?
Palliative care sees you as a whole person, not just a patient. Making sure the whole you receives the support you need when living with a serious illness is very important to us. Palliative Care does this by asking: “What Matters to You?”
For Patients and Loved Ones
What Matters to You?
Palliative care sees you as a whole person, not just a patient. Making sure the whole you receives the support you need when living with a serious illness is very important to us. Palliative Care does this by asking: “What Matters to You?”
Our interdisciplinary team provides an additional layer of specialized medical support for you by attending to the complex and challenging symptoms you may be experiencing while you are admitted.
Palliative care can help you manage your serious illness while living at home. We do this while honoring you as a person beyond your serious illness.
If you or a loved one is living in long term care, palliative care at that location can provide an additional layer of support along with the other health care providers.
We can’t plan for everything. But we can talk about what is most important — in our life, and in our health care — with those who matter most. Since anyone’s health status can change suddenly, it’s a good idea to start the conversation right away, before a medical problem occurs.
Everyone has their own preferences about the kind of care they do and don’t want to receive and so all adults would benefit from having these conversations with their family and close friends who can support them. Talking with your health care team helps create a care plan that’s right for you — a plan that will be available when you need it. When you share your values, preferences, and wishes with your clinicians and family, everyone becomes part of the team that helps you get the right care for you. Find more resources and information from Atlantic Health System .
Anna's Story
This powerful video illustrates the importance of advance care planning, and highlights the impact it has on patient, family members, caregivers, and health care providers.
Learn more about palliative care by reading answers to questions others have asked.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the palliative care team do?
Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is specialized medical care that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. It is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. The goal is to improve your quality of life.
To do this, the palliative care team will:
- Relieve your symptoms and distress
- Help you better understand your disease and diagnosis
- Help clarify your treatment goals and options
- Understand and support your ability to cope with your illness
- Assist you with making medical decision
- Coordinate with your other doctors
What can I expect from palliative care?
In short, you can expect that your quality of life will be improved. You will have relief from symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. You can also expect close communication and more control over your care. Palliative care will help you carry on with daily life. It will improve your ability to go through medical treatments. And it will help you to match your goals to your treatment choices.
Will my insurance cover palliative care?
Most insurance plans cover all or part of palliative care, just as with other hospital and medical services. This is also true of Medicare and Medicaid. If costs concern you, a social worker or financial consultant from the palliative care team can help you with payment options.
Do I have to give up my own doctor?
No. The palliative care team provides an extra layer of support and works in partnership with your primary doctor.
Can I have curative treatment together with palliative care?
Yes, absolutely. Your treatment choices are up to you. You can have palliative care at the same time as treatment meant to cure you.
Who else, besides the patient, can benefit?
Everyone involved! Patients as well as family caregivers are the special focus of palliative care. Your doctors and nurses benefit too, because they know they are meeting your needs by providing care and treatment that reduces your suffering and improves your quality of life.
Where do I get palliative care?
Palliative care is available in a number of places. More and more, palliative care is available outside of the hospital in the places where you live. You, your doctor and the palliative care team can discuss outpatient palliative care or palliative care at home. Some hospitals also offer outpatient palliative care even if you have not been in the hospital. Check with your doctor. These include hospitals, outpatient clinics and at home.
Who provides palliative care?
How does palliative care help me choose the best treatment option?
When should I ask for palliative care?
Recent cancer guidelines say that cancer patients should receive palliative care early and together with their other treatments. People who are newly diagnosed with advanced cancer should receive a palliative care consult within eight weeks of their diagnosis. Read the guidelines