Articles & Stories

If you or a loved one are living with Alzheimer’s Disease or another form of dementia, you know you are facing a difficult road ahead. The disease begins with memory loss, confusion and trouble making decisions, and gets worse over time, eventually affecting basic control over the body. But with the help of a medical specialty called palliative care, there is a lot that can be done to make people living with dementia more comfortable and reduce their distress.

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Life with heart failure can be a difficult journey. Your symptoms may get in the way of day-to-day activities, your family members may worry about how to take care of you, and you may be unsure about what to expect and how to plan for your future. Palliative care can help make that journey easier for you and your family so you can live as well as possible.

Palliative care is team-based medical care that is focused on improving quality of life for people living with serious illness and their families. It provides an added layer of support to control your pain and symptoms and to coordinate your care. Your palliative care team will work closely with your heart doctor and any other doctors who are treating you, to make sure your treatment plan is right for you. … Read More

When we go into the hospital, we want to be treated for whatever is ailing us. We also expect to be heard and validated.

When Toby Palma, a Las Vegas, Nevada woman in her early 40s, went into the emergency room several times complaining of severe pain all over her body, the doctors kept telling her it was a minor kidney infection. … Read More

Do you or a loved one have a serious illness such as cancer, heart failure, lung disease or kidney failure? If so, you may be tired of taking trips to the emergency room and unwanted hospital stays to treat pain, shortness of breath or other symptoms. Palliative care can help you stay safely at home doing the things you love surrounded by the people you love. … Read More

Kat Harrison of Dayton, OH has never been the type to sit around. As a former softball player and as a hard-working professional who often balanced multiple jobs, she has always been on the move. And luckily for her, she’s a frequent babysitter to four rambunctious grandchildren. As a result, she can often be found running around trying to keep things under control. She doesn’t mind.

“Oh my gosh, what isn’t there to like about being a grandmother? You see, being a parent is great, but being a grandparent is even better because you can be there for them and play with them, but then you get to send them back home and get some rest,” says Kat through laughter. … Read More

When you or a loved one is facing a serious illness, there can be a lot of choices to make. You may have to make a decision on what hospital to go to for your care. Sometimes there are different options to choose from to treat your illness. Then there are questions like, “Should I continue working while my illness is being treated?” or “Should I go on vacation or stay home to rest?”

Luckily, there are medical professionals available to help you make the decisions that fit your priorities and goals. They are called palliative care specialists.

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illness. It gives you, your family and doctors an extra layer of support. It will treat your pain and other symptoms. It will help you understand your treatment options. And it will help you cope with the everyday challenges of living with a serious illness. Palliative care specialists will also work with you to tackle the tough decisions. They put you and your family in the driver’s seat. … Read More

Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is specialized medical care for people with serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. While palliative care can help you at any age and at any stage of your illness, research shows that getting palliative care right away when facing an illness can make a positive difference. … Read More

Marion Blankenship of Charlotte, North Carolina lights up when she talks about her family, especially her eight grandchildren. She beams with pride when you ask her about her job working with kids at a childcare development center. And, she smiles ear to ear when she talks about her hobbies, like singing in church, cooking, or exercising at her local YMCA. … Read More

If you have been diagnosed with Eosinophil-Associated Disease (EAD), you may already be dealing with difficult physical symptoms as well as uncertainty about how the illness might affect your well-being. Pain and stress can be major barriers to continuing to live a fulfilling life. Palliative care is a medical specialty designed to help you with these obstacles right now.

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We all have those things we love doing. Whether it’s spending time with loved ones, hobbies like cooking or dancing, or taking trips to new places. These are the things that define who we are and bring us joy. When you’re facing a serious illness and dealing with pain or anxiety as a result, doing the things you love to do can be much more challenging.

That’s where palliative care comes in. … Read More