Palliative care is an extra layer of support for people living with serious illness and their families. We focus on providing symptom management and education as well as assisting in aligning the patient’s goals with their care plan, improving their quality of life, and ensuring the best care possible.

This care can be provided at any stage in a patient’s illness and does not change their current care team nor replace their current care providers.

The biggest difference between palliative care and hospice care is that palliative care can be provided at any stage in an illness alongside curative care and/or other treatments. Hospice care is more robust support reserved for patients when their care goals shift away from curative care and focus solely on comfort.

Hospice care is a benefit of Medicare and most insurance plans, and can provide physician, nurse practitioner, skilled nursing, social worker, and spiritual care in a patient’s home setting or wherever care is most appropriate.

Palliative care can begin at diagnosis and be administered alongside treatment regardless of life expectancy. Hospice care is compassionate care that prioritizes the quality of life for patients with a life expectancy of six months or less. Relief-based rather than curative, hospice care helps patients manage pain and other symptoms, with an emphasis on providing dignity and supporting a peaceful end-of-life experience.

Palliative care is right for any person experiencing symptoms associated with a serious or chronic illnesses, such as:

• Cancer

• Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

• Kidney Failure / Chronic Kidney Disease

• Dementia / Alzheimer’s Disease

• Parkinson’s Disease

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

• Stroke

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

• Others

Symptoms could include:

• Pain

• Anxiety

• Constipation

• Fatigue

• Depression

• Lack of appetite

• Nausea

• Shortness of breath

Palliative care provider visits can be partially or fully covered by Medicare, Medicaid, most Medicare Advantage plans, and many private insurance plans. The patient may be responsible for copays and deductibles associated with their specific plan.

Contributions from individuals, foundations, corporations, communities of faith, and civic organizations help us to care for everyone who needs our services, and to provide valued programs beyond those covered by insurance — such as grief care and community education.

Please ask your insurance provider for details regarding your coverage.

• Myth: We do NOT work with Home Health.
  Truth: Actually, we work well together to provide support.

• Myth: We are just another doctor’s office to go to. Truth: No, we come to you! Our nurse practitioner visits you wherever you call home.