Palliative and Advanced Care Week – What is Palliative Care?

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care provides comfort and support to people at any stage of a serious illness—not just at end-of-life. It’s all about easing pain, reducing stress, and improving quality of life for both patients and their families. This type of care works alongside curative treatments like chemotherapy, dialysis, or surgery, addressing the symptoms and challenges of conditions such as heart failure, COPD, cancer, dementia, and more.

Goals of Palliative Care:

Palliative care is focused on relieving symptoms such as pain, fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, anxiety, and more. The goal is to help patients live as comfortably as possible, while also supporting their families through coordinated, compassionate care.

What Palliative Care Services Include:

• Pain and symptom management
• Coordinated care with the patient’s existing healthcare providers
• Assistance with care planning and insurance paperwork
• Help with advance directives and POLST forms
• Spiritual care, if requested

Both palliative care and hospice focus on improving quality of life, but while hospice is designed for the end-of-life period, palliative care is available at any stage of serious illness.

Where is Palliative Care Delivered?

Palliative care can be provided in many settings—hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, specialized clinics, and at home. A team of doctors, nurses, and specialists work together to coordinate care and ensure everyone is on the same page.

How is Palliative Care Covered?

Medicare, Medicaid, and many private insurers cover palliative care, although the coverage may vary. Veterans may also qualify for palliative care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Check with your doctor and healthcare plan to understand coverage options. Unlike the comprehensive hospice benefit, there is no comprehensive palliative care benefit.