By Tara Connolly, VIA Health Partners
Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is specialized medical care for people with serious illness that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.
A palliative care specialist works alongside a patient’s primary clinicians. Palliative care providers manage symptoms that persist despite the best medical management, handle difficult conversations about disease progression, and assist patients and their families with medical decision-making based on their goals and preferences.
Palliative care as a specialty is a relatively new concept and often misunderstood. Learn the truth behind the 8 most common myths of palliative care:
Myth 1: Palliative care is just another name for hospice care
Fact: Hospice care is a form of palliative care given near the end of life, when the patient is expected to have six months or less to live. However, not all palliative care is hospice care. Palliative care can be provided to patients who still have many years to live, including those who may recover from their illness.
Myth 2: Patients cannot receive other treatments while receiving palliative care
Fact: Patients receiving palliative care can also receive curative treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, dialysis, or home health/therapy. Palliative care is often given alongside treatments intended to cure, control, or modify the illness.
Myth 3: Palliative care is end-of-life care and speeds up death
Fact: Palliative care focuses on relieving pain and symptoms while supporting the best quality of life for patients with serious illnesses. In fact, patients often live longer when they receive palliative care early in their illness.
Myth 4: Palliative care is just about pain relief
Fact: While pain is a common reason to seek palliative care, so are symptoms like nausea, shortness of breath, anxiety, depression, spiritual distress, constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, swelling, itching, and insomnia.
Myth 5: Palliative care is only for patients with cancer
Fact: Palliative care can help people with virtually any serious condition at any stage of illness, including kidney, liver, lung, and heart disease, diabetes, dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Myth 6: Palliative care only benefits patients
Fact: Families also benefit greatly. Seeing a loved one comfortable and able to eat, sleep, or participate in daily activities provides peace of mind. Palliative care specialists meet with families to ensure patients receive the care they want.
Myth 7: Palliative care services are only offered in the hospital
Fact: Palliative care can be provided in hospitals, clinics, long-term care communities, and even in the home when medically necessary.
Myth 8: Palliative care is expensive
Fact: Palliative care visits are covered by Medicare Part B, Medicaid, and most commercial insurers, with standard copayments and deductibles. It is billed like any other medical specialty.
