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Palliative care
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is specialized care delivered by a multidisciplinary team for people living with serious illnesses focusing on pain and symptom management while also working to reduce stress and improve quality of life for the person living with a serious illness and their family caregivers. It differs from hospice in that it can be provided at any stage of a serious illness along with curative and other treatments and is not limited to end-of-life care.
The team approach may include all or a subset of the following team members:
- Physicians (MD, DO)
- Advanced practice providers (PA, ARNP)
- Mental health providers
- Therapists (SLP, OT, PT)
- Social workers
- Spiritual care providers
Palliative care may include the following services:
- Initial assessment
- Goals of care and advance care planning
- Assessment of cognitive impairment
- Assessment and management of functional needs
- Assessment and management of serious illness and/or multiple chronic conditions
- Assessment and management of pain and symptoms
- Ongoing care management and care coordination
- Caregiver support and education
Where do I go to get palliative care?
Palliative care is available in the home, outpatient clinic, long-term care setting, and hospital.
See the directory of the Washington State Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (WSHPCO).