Articles & Stories

If you or a loved one are living with a serious illness, you may have experienced the financial stress that can come along with medical care. Whether you have insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, or are paying out of pocket, medical bills tend to stack up quickly. Add this to your everyday expenses like food, transportation, childcare, rent, and sometimes medical aides and home modifications, and paying bills seems insurmountable.

Did you know that there are nonprofit organizations that help offset costs for people living with serious illness? Every organization is different, but they all understand the stress and day-to-day needs of people living with a serious illness, and their loved ones. And they all have the goal of improving quality of life by reducing financial strain.

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Are you or a loved one living with a serious illness like cancer, kidney disease, or heart failure? If so, it’s important to know of a common symptom that isn’t always top of mind or discussed—constipation, which affects around 70% of people living with serious illness. Addressing constipation can improve quality of life and help with discomfort or pain.

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Taking five or more prescription medications (called polypharmacy) is more common than most people realize. Research shows that it is very common among older adults. Usually, this is because the person has several chronic conditions. That’s why health care providers tend to add medicine. The problem? The chances of having poor outcomes go up the more medication you take. Your palliative care team can make a difference. … Read More

Are you or a loved one living with a serious illness like cancer, COPD, or heart failure? While you may be focused on managing the main symptoms of your illness, there’s another common one that is not often recognized or treated: fatigue.

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You’ve probably heard a lot about telehealth, or the ability to have doctor appointments via phone and video chat. Now, more than ever, doctors have been making it available to their patients. 

If you or a loved one are living with a serious illness, telehealth is a great way to have regular appointments with your palliative care team and keep in touch regularly. You may first need to visit the doctor in person, but after that, you may be able to do most of your visits from where you’re most comfortable—at home.   … Read More

It’s been over 10 years since we recorded our first video with Debbie, and we are happy to report that she is doing well. In the summer of 2022, Debbie agreed to join us for another video to talk about how palliative care has helped her. … Read More

By Andrew Esch, MD

Heart failure is a serious illness that can take a toll on quality of life for patients and their families. If you are living with heart failure, you already know that it is a serious illness in which the heart is unable to pump blood properly. Palliative care can help. … Read More

Are you or a loved one living with a serious illness like cancer, stroke, dementia, or heart or lung disease? If so, you may find that you need help managing symptoms, reducing stress, and improving your quality of life. Palliative care can help.  … Read More

If you or a loved one are living with a serious illness, you should learn if palliative care is right for you—and when to ask for it.  

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. It provides relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Palliative care is provided by a specially-trained team who works together with your other doctors to provide an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in your illness. And it can be provided along with treatment that is meant to cure you.  … Read More

If you are caring for someone receiving palliative care or for someone who needs it, you should know that the palliative care team will help you, too. … Read More