Palliative care during serious illness
Palliative care — also called comfort care — manages symptoms, pain and stress that you or your loved one may experience with serious illness. Palliative care supplements medical treatment and, if needed, allows for a smooth transition between home health and hospice services.
With palliative home care, a team of experts from multiple medical specialties work together to address the complex needs of the seriously ill patient and his or her family members. This collaboration results in a comprehensive care plan to treat the whole person by offering medical, emotional and spiritual support.
In addition, palliative home care typically:
- Opens discussions about treatment choices, including treatment for diseases and management of symptoms.
- Assists with discussions concerning goals of care and advance directives
- Eases transitions between healthcare settings
- Offers compassionate family support
