It’s tough to live with the complex challenges of a serious illness or chronic condition, such as cancer, advanced heart lung or kidney disease, or dementia. When you need relief from the symptoms, side effects and stress of your diagnosis and treatments, turn to PAMF’s compassionate, effective palliative care teams.
Palliative care helps you and your adult loved ones address a wide range of physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs. It’s appropriate at any stage in a serious illness, and you can receive it at the same time as curative treatments.
At Palo Alto Medical Foundation, our palliative care professionals provide team-based support that includes:
- Meaningful conversations to ensure that your values match the treatments you choose.
- Advanced care planning and help with complex decisions for your medical care.
- Physician expertise and medication management to alleviate pain (PDF) and other symptoms that interfere with your quality of life, such as fatigue, shortness of breath, constipation, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and more.
- Care coordination with your healthcare providers and caregivers.
- Education and support regarding your diagnosis and plan of care.
- Psychosocial comfort to ease loneliness, fears, stress, isolation and other issues.
Your palliative care team may include specially trained doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers and other specialists as needed. These experienced staff help you live each day comfortably and according to your wishes.
In addition to supporting your immediate physical and mental needs, the palliative care team coordinates care with your goals and wishes. Care may be provided at home, in the hospital or in a clinic.
