Palliative care seeks to improve quality of life

Beth is a 75-year-old woman who has been living with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) for many years.Recently, she has started experiencing progressively worsening symptoms to the point where she is wearing oxygen continuously. She is unable to participate in simple every-day activities because of shortness of breath.She worries that she will not be able catch her breath and is withdrawing from her once very active social life.A Care Dimensions palliative care doctor met with Beth to discuss her hopes and goals or her current and future care. Our doctor evaluated her symptoms and made recommendations that were then discussed with her primary care physician.What helped get Beth’s symptoms and anxiety under control? Palliative care.Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on improving quality of life for people with serious illness. The team of palliative healthcare professionals at Care Dimensions work with a patient’s primary care physician to ensure a comprehensive, coordinated, patient-and family-centered plan of care that addresses pain and symptom management, as well as the stress associated with a patient’s disease. Many conditions can be treated with palliative care, including cancer, cardiac or pulmonary disorders, Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, ALS, multiple sclerosis, incontinence, weight loss, fatigue and more.What are the benefits of palliative care?The goal of palliative care is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.The benefits of palliative care include:? Pain and symptoms that are managed to optimize quality of life.? Care is coordinated with the patient’s physicians and specialists and curative treatment may still be pursued.? Professionals can explain treatment options and how to discuss a prognosis with loved ones, especially when the prognosis may be unclear.? Help with discussing and setting goals for care and for quality-of-life issues.? Provides patients and their families an extra layer of support during a challenging time.How do you know if it is the right time for palliative care?Palliative care is right at any age and at any stage of a serious illness and can be provided together with curative treatments. Listed below are a few guidelines to help you determine if a palliative care program is the right choice for you or a loved one living with serious illness:? You have uncontrolled symptoms that are affecting your quality of life.? You are experiencing emotional, psychological and/or spiritual distress due to your advanced illness.? You go to the emergency department more and more due to your illness.? You have been admitted to the hospital multiple times over a short period of time due to your illness.? You are experiencing depression, stress or anxiety about your illness.? More support is required from your loved ones.? You have not discussed your prognosis and care options in-depth.If the answer is yes to any of these, palliative care can help. Palliative care consultations are covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. At Care Dimensions, our palliative care team is made up of eight physicians certified in Hospice and palliative care, eight nurse practitioners and a social worker. They meet with patients in the hospital, at an outpatient clinic in Danvers, and will even come to a patient’s home, whether that’s a private home, nursing home or assisted living community.If you are wondering if palliative care is right for you or a loved one, please call the experts at Care Dimensions. We have grown to become the largest and most experienced hospice and palliative care program in the state, serving more than 90 communities and nearly 5,000 patients and families per year. A nonprofit organization, Care Dimensions is committed to helping people better understand hospice and palliative care and to make access to these services easier.Stephanie Patel is vice president and chief medical officer of Care Dimensions in Danvers. Anyone ca