Comfort Care During Serious Illness
Palliative care is specialized care for people at any stage of a serious illness. The goals are to relieve pain and suffering and help give the patient a better quality of life. It acts as a support system for the patient and their family. Key components of palliative care at Southwest Healthcare include pain management, advanced care planning, psychosocial and spiritual support, coordination of care and, if needed, bereavement counseling.
Patients suffering from heart disease, cancer, cardiac disease, lung conditions such as COPD, kidney failure, liver failure, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and traumatic injury can typically benefit from palliative care.
Find a Physician
If you need a referral to a physician at Southwest Healthcare, call our free physician referral service at 800-879-1020 or search for a doctor online.
Benefits of Palliative Care
Palliative care can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life by:
- Reducing physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Improving the communication between the patient, their family and physicians
- Coordinating care across multiple healthcare settings
Is Palliative Care Different Than Hospice Care?
Palliative care is not hospice care. Hospice is used for patients with advanced stage or terminal illness. The goal is to keep the patient comfortable before they die.
Palliative care also promotes pain management and comfort, but it can be used during any stage of an illness. The emphasis is on managing pain and symptoms and improving quality of life. There is no time limit for palliative care.