Did you know?
How do I know if palliative care is right for me?
Palliative care may be right for you if you suffer from pain, stress or other symptoms due to a serious illness. Illnesses may include cancer, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and many more. You can have palliative care at any age and at any stage of your illness, and you can have it together with treatment meant to cure you.
What can I expect from palliative care?
You can expect relief from symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. Palliative care helps you carry on with your daily life. It improves your ability to go through medical treatments. It helps you better understand your condition and your choices for medical care. In short, you can expect the best possible quality of life.
Where do I receive palliative care?
Palliative care is provided in a variety of places including the hospital, outpatient clinic and at home.
Does my insurance pay for palliative care?
Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover palliative care.
Who provides palliative care?
Palliative care is provided by a team including palliative care doctors, nurses and other specialists.
How does palliative care work with my own doctor?
The palliative care team works in partnership with your own doctor to provide an extra layer of support for you and your family. The team provides expert pain and symptom management, help with stress and support for your caregivers, extra time for communication to help you match your goals to your treatment options, help navigating the health care system, and coordination of all your doctors.
Can children get palliative care?
Absolutely. Palliative care is based on need, so you can have it at any age.
How do I get palliative care?
Ask for it! Tell your doctors and nurses that you would like to see the palliative care team. You’ll need a referral, but the GetPalliativeCare.org Provider Directory is a great place to start.
How do I lean more?
Learn more at GetPalliativeCare.org. And, you can download a handout with these questions and answers here.
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