Palliative care is a specialized approach to medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness. Unlike hospice care, which is typically provided to patients with a terminal prognosis, palliative care can be initiated at any stage of an illness, alongside curative treatments. Its primary goal is to improve the quality of life for both patients and their families.

Palliative care is a medical subspecialty provided by specially trained nurses and physicians. These pain and symptom experts team up with your own doctor to provide an extra layer of support to alleviate distressing symptoms from conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney failure, advanced lung disease, and more.

The main goals of palliative care are to:

1. Help you feel your best

2. Help you understand your disease and its treatment

3. Assist you with making treatment goals

4. Explain important medical decisions

5 Coordinate your care with other doctors.

Overall, palliative care aims to improve the quality of life for patients with serious illness by addressing their physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. By providing comprehensive support and symptom management, palliative care helps patients and their families navigate the challenges of serious illness with dignity, comfort, and peace.