Getting Started with Palliative Care
Whether you need help with daily activities, home health care, palliative care or hospice, your health care decisions are deeply personal to you and your family. You’ll want to consider all your needs and options to maintain independence in familiar surroundings. Riverside At Home can help you get started with an extra layer of support focused on relief from pain and symptoms caused by serious illness.About Palliative Care
When to Consider Palliative Care
Palliative care is for patients at any age or stage of the progression of illness. It blends additional specialized care to help manage pain, symptoms and emotional well-being with the patient’s current care plan. Palliative care helps patients understand the disease process and treatment options, clarify goals and explore all options for care and find coordinated support to cope with serious illness.
Choosing to pursue palliative care can be a challenging decision with a lot of aspects to consider. Some key factors that may weigh into your decision include:
- Increasing discomfort or pain
- Emotional and psychological distress or depression
- Unexplained weight loss
- Declines in physical activity and function
- Difficulty performing daily activities
- Frequent hospitalizations
- Current treatments not meeting needs
- A desire to have an extra layer of support, education, resources or spiritual assistance
See some common questions you might want to ask yourself before starting palliative care.
Take the Next Steps
To get started with palliative care, you’ll want to have a talk with your primary health care provider about your care plan, including any questions you have or modifications you’d like to make. Your primary care doctor can place a referral, or you can call to initiate care as well.
Riverside At Home has specialized palliative care providers in your area who offer comprehensive services, so do some research and do not hesitate to express your interest in exploring this supportive option. You can schedule an initial consultation with the palliative care team to discuss needs, concerns and goals that are specific to your personal situation or illness. The team will work collaboratively with you and your loved ones, creating a customized care plan that makes you feel comfortable, eases your pain and symptoms and best suits your needs and wishes.
Paying for Palliatve Care
Palliative care may be covered by Medicare, Medicaid and various insurance policies. If you are a veteran, you may be eligible for palliative care services through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Talk with a social worker, care manager, financial advisor or other resources available to you at Riverside if you have questions or concerns about paying for palliative care.
Through Riverside At Home’s palliative care services, you’ll work with compassionate health experts to receive emotional and psychological support, advance care planning and coordination and alleviation from pain and symptoms. By asking the right questions, sharing your individual needs and exploring the available services, you’ll be prepared to take the first steps.
But remember, you’re never facing your illness and health issues alone. We’ll be here to help, offering compassion, expertise and a relentless commitment to you and your quality of life. Contact us today at 757-594-5600 to learn more about our palliative care services and how we can help you and your loved ones find relief from the toughest health challenges.
What If My Condition Worsens?
With Riverside At Home, you will never face health challenges alone. Remain at home and receive care that helps you find peace and comfort in your health journey. Don’t wait to learn more about Riverside’s Hospice Care options and choose high-quality care that is fully covered by Medicare and will support and celebrate your life.
