Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is specialized medical care for people with serious, chronic illnesses. It focuses on providing patients with relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.
Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness. Unlike hospice care, it can be provided along with curative treatment.
Benefits of Palliative Care
Pain and symptom control: The palliative care team will identify your sources of pain and discomfort. These may include problems with breathing, fatigue, depression, insomnia, or bowel or bladder. Then the team will provide treatments that can offer relief. These might include medication, along with massage therapy or relaxation techniques.
Communication and coordination: Palliative care teams are extremely good communicators. They put great importance on communication between you, your family and your doctors in order to ensure that your needs are fully met. These include establishing goals for your care, help with decision-making and coordination of care.
Emotional support: Palliative care focuses on the entire person, not just the illness. The team members caring for you will address any social, psychological, emotional or spiritual needs you may have.
Family/caregiver support: Caregivers bear a great deal of stress too, so the palliative care team supports them as well. This focused attention helps ease some of the strain and can help you with your decision making.
What can the Gulfside Palliative Care Clinic Team do for you?
When is the right time for palliative care? Check out this list of signs that you or a loved one might be ready.
Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness. Unlike hospice care, it can be provided along with curative treatment.
Benefits of Palliative Care
Pain and symptom control: The palliative care team will identify your sources of pain and discomfort. These may include problems with breathing, fatigue, depression, insomnia, or bowel or bladder. Then the team will provide treatments that can offer relief. These might include medication, along with massage therapy or relaxation techniques.
Communication and coordination: Palliative care teams are extremely good communicators. They put great importance on communication between you, your family and your doctors in order to ensure that your needs are fully met. These include establishing goals for your care, help with decision-making and coordination of care.
Emotional support: Palliative care focuses on the entire person, not just the illness. The team members caring for you will address any social, psychological, emotional or spiritual needs you may have.
Family/caregiver support: Caregivers bear a great deal of stress too, so the palliative care team supports them as well. This focused attention helps ease some of the strain and can help you with your decision making.
What can the Gulfside Palliative Care Clinic Team do for you?
- Provide assessment by a board-certified palliative physician and an experienced palliative care team
- Provide quality-of-life improvements through various medical treatments
- Provide support in decision-making and guidance to patients, physicians, nurses and family caregivers concerning treatment options, care planning and placement issues
- Provide expertise in pain and symptom management
- Offer emotional and spiritual support to patients and families
- Consult with caregivers, medical and nursing staff on how to talk about palliative care with patients and families
- Provide individualized care and resources for coping with denial, depression, loss and grief
- Identify program eligibility and coordinate services for home care and equipment, Hospice, Medicaid, Medicare, VA benefits and other community resources
When is the right time for palliative care? Check out this list of signs that you or a loved one might be ready.
