PALLIATIVE CARE CENTER

Our mission is to provide comprehensive coordinated care to you and your family and help you achieve the best quality of life for as long as possible with a peace of mind

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WHAT IS PALLIATIVE CARE

• Is NOT end of Life Care
• Palliative care is “living as well as possible for as long as possible”. It’s designed for people with a serious illness, and for their families. 
• It focuses on alleviating symptoms such as pain and stress related to illness, so you can live more comfortably.
• Palliative care works together with your primary care physician, providing an extra layer of support for you and your family to meet your physical, emotional, spiritual, and practical needs.

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•  Patients with a serious illness like cancer, heart failure, emphysema, dementia, advanced kidney or liver disease and many other illnesses causing pain or discomfort.
• Patients who need support or assistance with care transitions at any level 
• Patients who need emotional and spiritual support for the patient and family 
• Palliative care provides an additional layer of support and can be integrated at any age and any stage of illness. 
• Palliative care will ease transitions from one care setting to another.

WHO BENEFITS

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KEY INDICATIONS

• Uncontrolled pain, physical or emotional symptoms related to serious illness
• Declining function and capacity to provide activities of daily living
• Progressive weight loss * Multiple hospitalizations
• Uncertainty regarding prognosis * conflict regarding goals of care
• DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) conflict
• Use of tube feeding or TPN for patients with cognitive impairment or advanced illness
• Family or provider questions about appropriateness for hospice care
• Caregiver or family distress; need for resources

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Palliative care is not the same as hospice care.  Hospice always includes palliative care, but focuses on a person’s final months of life,
who is no longer seeking curative therapies, and expects to have six months or less to live. 
HOWEVER ...
PALLIATIVE CARE services can be received at any stage of illness, and patients can receive palliative care at the same time they receive therapeutic or curative treatment.