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What is Palliative Care?
Palliative Care is intensive management of symptoms to help a patient achieve the best possible quality of life. Through an interdisciplinary team approach, the Palliative Care Program seeks to relieve physical and emotional suffering, as well as provide social, psychological and spiritual support.

Who is a candidate for Palliative Care?
Any seriously ill patient, at any stage of a life-limiting illness, such as patients with:

• AIDS
• Cancer
• Chronic heart failure
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Chronic lung disease
• Dementia or stroke

When should I consider getting a Palliative Care consultation?
When you want assistance with:

• Managing your symptoms
• Discussing goals of your care
• Discussing Advance Directives
• Conducting a family conference
• Breaking bad news
• Communicating prognosis
• Discussing hospice care

Is Palliative Care the same as Hospice Care?
All Hospice Care is Palliative Care, but not all Palliative Care is Hospice Care. Palliative Care can begin as soon as a patient is diagnosed with a serious illness and can be provided at the same time as curative or life prolonging treatment. Hospice Care focuses on the unique needs of terminally ill patients.

• AIDS
• Cancer
• Chronic heart failure
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Chronic lung disease
• Dementia or stroke

How do patients and families benefit from Palliative Care?
Palliative Care gives patients and their families:

• A better understanding of their condition and choices for their medical care;
• Relief from pain, shortness of breath, nausea, constipation, difficulty sleeping and other distressing symptoms associated with serious illnesses;
• Guidance with difficult treatment choices;
• Emotional and spiritual support;
• Assistance with transition to hospice;
• Language and cultural support for all the above services.

Who is on the Palliative Care Team?

• Palliative Care Physicians
• Social Workers
• Pastoral Care Staff
• Language Services Staff

The Palliative Care Team works closely with the patient’s primary doctor to coordinate a plan of care, including discharge planning, and works collaboratively with other services involved in the care of the patient.