PALLIATIVE CARE

WORKING AS A TEAM TO IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE

May 2013

Outline• What it is palliative care?• How can it help you?• Who is on the team?• How does it work?• Where do you receive it?• When can you receive it?• How much does it cost?• Helpful information• Questions

What is palliative care?• Palliative (pronounced pay-lee-a-tive or pal-ee-a-tive)

means relieving and lessening• Specialized care • Helps relieve and lessen the symptoms, pain, and stress

resulting from a serious illness or disease• Helps improve quality of life• Different than hospice. It is not just end-of-life care• Meets physical, emotional, and spiritual needs

Serious illness examples• Palliative care can help with serious illness or disease.• Here are some examples:

• Cancer• Dementia• Heart disease• HIV/AIDS• Kidney failure• Liver disease• Lung disease• Multiple sclerosis, and • Parkinson’s disease

Who is on the team?• The team can include:

• Doctors• Nurses• Social workers• Pharmacists• Nutritionists• Spiritual advisors, and• Mental health specialists

The team is based on each patient’s individual needs and goals.

How can it help you?• Extra layer of support in addition to your normal

healthcare provider.

• Helps with:• Care coordination• Guidance with medical decisions• Communication• Emotional and spiritual support• Relief from pain and symptoms

How does it work?• Ask your healthcare provider for a referral.• Explore hospitals in your area with palliative care teams.• After receiving a referral, you may meet with a palliative

care team or doctor to learn your needs and preferences.• You can meet one-on-one or in a group.

Where do you receive palliative care?• You can receive palliative care in any of these places:

• Hospital• Outpatient clinic• Nursing home• Assisted living facility• Your home

When can you receive it?• At any age, or any stage, of a serious illness or disease• Illness diagnosis• Never too late to start• Your illness or disease does not have to be terminal

How much does it cost?• Generally covered by health insurance, including

Medicare and Medicaid.• Depends on type of services you’re getting• Financial assistance is often available if you don’t have

health insurance

• You can:• Contact your insurance company to see if they cover palliative care• Talk with a social worker or your hospital’s financial counselor if

you don’t have insurance

Helpful information• Cancer Care: www.cancercare.org/patients_and_survivors • Caring Connections: www.caringinfo.org • Compassion and Choices of Washington: www.compassionwa.org • International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care —• Resources for Patients and Relatives: www.iasp-pain.org • National Cancer Institute — Palliative Care in Cancer:• www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Support/palliative-care • Palliative Care Provider Directory of Hospitals:• www.getpalliativecare.org/providers

Questions?

For more information:http://www.wacancer.org/TASKFORCES/SURVIVORSHIP.aspx