Palliative care is specialized medical care to help people with serious illnesses feel better. Unlike hospice, palliative care is available while you or your loved one is still seeking a cure.
Palliative care also focuses on managing pain, symptoms, and the effects of illness. It helps guide patients through care options to determine patients’ access to resources to help them meet their individual goals.
Palliative care is provided by a team of physicians, nurses, and other specialists to provide an extra layer of support. Our Palliative Certified Medical Director oversees our program. Under their direction, a nurse practitioner provides comprehensive evaluation, assessment, and coordination with specialists. A social worker may assist in providing resources for practical and emotional support.
Many people ask about the difference between palliative vs. hospice care. Both aim to relieve suffering and improve quality of life, but hospice care is typically reserved for individuals with a prognosis of six months or less and who are no longer seeking curative treatment. Palliative care, on the other hand, can begin at any stage of a serious illness—even during active treatment.
Care is delivered at home or in a homelike setting, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, veterans’ facilities, and hospitals. Ascend can help determine which type of care is most appropriate. Home visits can also be arranged to assess how to best serve the patient and their family.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, and are continuing to pursue curative treatment, then you might want palliative care. If that time comes, Ascend Health can provide comprehensive support.