What is palliative care? 

For anyone with a serious illness, palliative care may be an option that brings great relief to both the patient and the loved ones who care about them. 

Palliative care is not for those approaching the end of life, but for those facing serious illnesses that disrupt daily living and quality of life. It can bring comfort, both physically and emotionally, to those facing these issues.

How does palliative care help?

Palliative care complements medical treatments and aims to improve the quality of life for patients with life-altering and life-limiting illnesses. It addresses a range of issues such as pain, agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, constipation, thirst, insomnia and shortness of breath. 

Palliative care can be provided in different settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities and the person's home. People can receive palliative care alongside their existing healthcare providers, while continuing to receive medical treatments for their illnesses. Some of the benefits of palliative care include:

• Reduced hospitalization times
• Reduced readmission
• Expedition of throughput
• Reassurance through more communication
• More consistent symptom relief
• Coordination and broadening of care with your healthcare provider

Palliative care is also very family-oriented. Its goal is to help both the patient and their loved ones cope during the challenging times of progression of the disease.

What is the palliative care process?

Anyone with a serious illness — regardless of life expectancy — can take advantage of palliative care. One of the main benefits is that the patient will have a team of professionals seeing to their care who can determine the best course of treatment, working with their primary care provider’s recommendations.

A few steps on beginning the palliative care process include:

• Speak with your current healthcare provider.
• Let them know that you wish to improve the quality of life while battling your illness and how important this is for you.
• Your healthcare provider can refer you to a palliative care service organization.
• Speak with your palliative care specialist about care options including insurance. Most insurance plans cover this type of care, including Medicare and Medicaid.

What to expect when care begins

Palliative care addresses and manages the physical and psycho-emotional symptoms experienced by individuals with serious illnesses.

Pain management is a common treatment, involving medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen or stronger options like morphine. Alternative techniques such as massage therapy, acupuncture, music therapy and aromatherapy may also be used.

Loved ones play an important role in palliative care, receiving emotional support and guidance from professionals. Palliative care providers serve as advocates and navigators, ensuring the patient's wishes are respected and their needs are met.

Tanner Health System currently offers Palliative Care service only in the inpatient setting of care. Tanner Palliative Care has a multidisciplinary team approach. This team includes a licensed social worker, chaplain, registered nurse and physician.