Browse a list of common palliative care frequently asked questions to learn more about this important form of healthcare. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? Call us anytime, 24/7: (800) 229-8183.
Palliative care is a form of medical care specifically for people with serious illness. Any age. Any stage of illness, even the day of diagnosis. The goal of this “comfort” care is to improve your quality of life to help you, and those who care about you, live your best life every day. Palliative care addresses pain, symptoms, and stresses of serious illness. It can relieve pain from the illness itself, the treatment, or the effects from any other medical condition. Treating pain with medication and relieving side effects is an important part of palliative care. Find out more about the services of our South NJ palliative care program.
Palliative care provides expert treatment of symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, and many other symptoms. It devotes time to listening to you, answering any questions about your disease and treatment options, and matching treatments to your goals and wishes. Guided by your goals, the team aligns care and treatment plans to honor your values, wishes, and preferences – all in collaboration with other physicians and providers caring for you.
Palliative care is appropriate for anyone at any age and at any stage of serious illness. You can benefit from palliative care from the moment of diagnosis through treatment and recovery. You don’t have to wait until the disease has reached an advanced stage.
Palliative care helps people living with cancer, cardiac disease such as congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dementia, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s, HIV/AIDS, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — and any other serious illness. You can continue seeking treatment for any chronic condition while benefiting from the comfort of palliative care.
Palliative care is right for you if you have a serious illness, regardless of age or illness level.
Yes, definitely. Palliative care helps ease the side effects of curative treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. Palliative care also provides relief from the pain and symptoms of serious illness. It does not take the place of treatment from your current doctors, nor does it mean you can no longer seek treatment.
No. Our palliative care specialists work with your physician and/or specialists. While this is a very common palliative question, rest assured you won’t be required to give up your regular doctors or treatments, or hope for a cure.
The Samaritan palliative care team will spend time talking and listening to you and your family. They will make sure you completely understand all of your treatment options and choices. By deeply exploring your personal goals, the palliative care team will help you match those goals to the options. They will work with your current physician or specialist. This gives you more control over your care. Contact us now to learn more: (800) 229-8183.
Other doctors focus on your general health or treating your disease or condition. Palliative doctors and nurse practitioners focus on addressing pain and symptoms, improving your quality of life, and helping you and your loved ones cope with the stress and burden of your illness.
Yes, of course. But palliative care experts have special training and expertise in pain management and symptom control, and specialize in helping patients and their families cope with the many stresses of a serious illness, from the side effects of a medical treatment to caregiver stress to fears about the future.
Palliative care physicians, nurse practitioners, and social workers can assist you with difficult medical decisions and help you weigh the pros and cons of various treatments.
In other words: your primary doctors should be focused on your illness, while palliative experts focus specifically on your physicals emotional, and spiritual comfort.
Palliative Medical Partners visits are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurers with applicable co-payments and deductibles. If you have any questions about coverage and cost, please call us at (800) 229-8183.