As we shared in a recent blog post, hearing personal stories is tremendously helpful when learning about the positive impacts of palliative care—especially when it has helped so many people improve their quality of life. In this blog post, we’re sharing two more stories from patients who are living well with serious illness, due to the support received by the palliative care team. Read and watch their stories below!
Recorded: Thursday, February 20, 2025 at the APDA Virtual Parkinson’s Conference 2025
Presenter: Andrew Esch, MD, MBA
Description: In this on-demand presentation, learn about how palliative care can help you or a loved one living with Parkinson’s Disease. Dr. Esch explains palliative care, what to expect during your first appointment, questions to ask your provider, how palliative care helps caregivers, and much more. Dr. Esch also answers live questions from the audience.
Sometimes, reading about how palliative care can improve the quality of life of people living with serious illness may not be enough. Being able to listen to someone’s story can make all the difference. That’s why we’re excited to share a new series of videos from patients and caregivers who are now thriving, thanks to the support of their palliative care teams. Read and watch their stories below. Plus, stay tuned for two more stories next month.
Our hearts are with everyone in Los Angeles who has been affected by the devastating wildfires.
If you or a loved one are living with a serious illness like cancer, COPD, or kidney disease, the wildfires may have made life even more challenging. Whether you have been forced to evacuate your home, have experienced loss, or are experiencing changes in daily routines and medical care, this blog includes resources to help you cope. … Read More
By Beth Popp, MD
If you or a loved one are living with cervical cancer, palliative care can help. From helping to relieve physical symptoms, working through difficult emotions, coordinating care, and supporting you through decision-making, palliative care offers all of this and more.
A Psychology Today article shares four ways receiving palliative care at home can help you or a loved one. This includes lowering stress (because you are in the comfort of your own home!), helping you stay independent (you can keep doing your daily routines), increasing your quality of life (thanks to holistic care), and empowering personal choices (so you can make decisions aligned with what’s most important to you). While all of these benefits are also available when you receive palliative care in other settings, like hospitals and doctor’s offices, the article is focused on the comfort of the home.
An article on AARP’s blog discusses everything a caregiver needs to know about palliative care, including what it is, how it can help, and what you and your loved one can expect. The author also discusses how it can help with caregiver burnout. “We know that caregiver distress and burnout is really difficult. Palliative care helps make sure that the caregiver is getting the support they need to understand the illness, to be a good surrogate decision-maker,” said Dr. Vicki Jackson, a palliative care doctor who was interviewed for the article.
Are you or a loved one living with a serious illness? GetPalliativeCare.org is here to help.
GetPalliativeCare.org is an online resource for patients and families that provides information on palliative care from the point of diagnosis. At GetPalliativeCare.org, you can read real patient stories about how palliative care has helped them, take a short quiz to see whether you or a loved one could benefit from palliative care, and more. The site is provided by the Center to Advance Palliative Care.
If you or a loved one is living with a serious illness, medical tests are likely a regular part of your day-to-day life. Blood work and scans play a big role in managing your care—and thanks to technology and a new law that ensures you have quick access to your health information so you stay informed and engaged in your care, you can often access these results as soon as they’re ready.
By Allison Applebaum, PhD
Family caregivers are the everyday heroes of health care. They’re the ones—parents, partners, children, siblings, friends—who step up to help loved ones living with serious illness at home, often around the clock. Today, more than 53 million people in the United States are in this role, which keeps growing. As more health care shifts to the home, caregivers’ roles are more important than ever. But caring for someone isn’t always easy, and it can be overwhelming.
A new article on Cure.com discusses how palliative care for people living with kidney cancer is much more than symptom management. The author describes the ways that palliative care can help and emphasizes that it is valuable at any stage of the disease. It helps patients align their treatment with their personal goals and improves their quality of life.
Are you or a loved one living with a serious illness? GetPalliativeCare.org is here to help.
GetPalliativeCare.org is an online resource for patients and families that provides information on palliative care from the point of diagnosis. At GetPalliativeCare.org, you can read real patient stories about how palliative care has helped them, take a short quiz to see whether you or a loved one could benefit from palliative care, and more. The site is provided by the Center to Advance Palliative Care.
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