Get Palliative Blog

Living with a serious illness like heart failure can be challenging on its own. Unfortunately, it also carries an increased risk of complications from the coronavirus. This surely adds another level of concern right now for you, your family and caregivers. It can be hard to know the cause of new or worsening symptoms, since several overlap. So it’s important to be as informed as possible, know when to communicate with your doctors – and when to call 9-1-1 for an emergency. … Read More

As a speech language pathologist for young children, Ilene’s skills as an educator, careful listener and problem solver were keys to her career success. These factors also have played an important role for her through the many years she’s been treated for advanced ovarian cancer. It was a surprise diagnosis for the 68-year-old New Yorker that came in the fall of 2015 and changed her life dramatically.

She had a growing number of symptoms and side effects from treatments and surgery. When her cancer doctor referred Ilene to the palliative care team, Ilene didn’t know about the medical specialty. She had no idea how important it would be over the many years of her cancer journey, which included several recurrences. But ever-the-educator and problem solver, she went to the first appointment hoping for help to address many sources of discomfort.  … Read More

Are you or a loved one living with a serious illness? If so, it’s normal to have a lot of questions and uncertainty, especially when new words are thrown around by doctors about your health. Whether you have a recent diagnosis, or have been living with your illness for a period of time, you may need help understanding what everything means, from symptoms to side effects, treatment options, and more.

Where can you get this kind of help?  One way is with a referral to a palliative care team.   … Read More

Everything is uncertain now, especially for people living with a serious illness. Everyone is worrying about what to expect and how to prepare for COVID-19. After all, we know so little and there is still no treatment. But Diane Meier, MD, director of the Center to Advance Palliative Care, offers insight and answers to the most common questions.  … Read More

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine may be the safest – and sometimes the only – option for people to speak with their palliative care teams or other health care professionals. To slow the spread of the virus, telemedicine makes it possible for you to remain inside your home when you need to speak with your doctor. 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the largest health care payer in the country, has temporarily waived rules to allow more flexibility during this public health emergency. Patients and families can also learn more by going to the telehealth section of the Health and Human services website.

Below, we have put together quick and easy tips that will help you get ready for your visit.  … Read More

Everyone is worrying about what to expect and how to prepare for COVID-19. After all, we know so little and there is still no treatment. In two interviews with Dr. Diane Meier, director of CAPC (the Center to Advance Palliative Care), ARCHANGELS Co-Founder and CEO, Alexandra Drane, gets at the core of what’s waking us up at night, including how do we make decisions and how do we actually feel human instead of just medical specimens. Diane makes us feel more in control and feel better about our COVID19 worries… she clears up confusion, addresses the fears many of us have, recommends three things we can all do right now to be prepared–and she makes it not scary. We can all feel good about telling a friend to watch these videos. … Read More

If you are a transplant recipient, you may be wondering how the Coronavirus (COVID-19) might affect you. Since it is a new virus, doctors are still learning about it and its potential effect on transplant recipients. Doctors Meenakshi Rana and Andrew E. Esch share tips and answer frequently asked questions.* … Read More

Tony Back, MD, a doctor in Seattle, has very useful and clear tips for caregivers caring for someone with a serious illness during COVID-19.  What you do is so important to the person you care for—so first, Dr. Back and all of us want to shout out a huge thank you. 

Many of you want to know what you should be doing now about coronavirus. And you’re saying, we’re already staying at home. What else can we do? Well, there are three other good things you can do now. … Read More

If you or a loved one are living with a chronic lung disease or other respiratory condition, you may be wondering how Coronavirus (COVID-19) could affect you. Below, doctors Louis R. DePalo and Andrew E. Esch share tips and answer frequently asked questions.* … Read More

If you or a loved one are living with cancer, there are things that you can do to protect yourself from coronavirus (also called COVID-19). Doctors Cardinale B. Smith and Andrew E. Esch share tips and answer frequently asked questions.*  … Read More