Palliative Care: Getting Started
Palliative Care: Getting StartedAngela Valerio walks her son Jadiel and niece Elisa to school every day.“It hurts. It hurts my bones. So, it’s a struggle. It doesn’t matter how sick I feel, I have to get up and takemy kids to school - every day.”Angela was diagnosed six years ago with a rare growth in her right leg, called a Desmoid Tumor. She takesChemotherapy pills to prevent cells from the tumor from spreading to nearby areas. But the treatment hasmany side effects and can’t stop the pain from her tumor.“I feel like the bone aching is going down.”Angela was referred to the Palliative Care team at the hospital where she is treated.“So, this is the medicine you’re taking for the nausea?”“Yes.”Palliative Care is specialized medical treatment focused on improving quality of life during a serious illness. Itaddresses not only pain and other physical issues like those Angela has experienced but also emotional andspiritual challenges related to living with a serious illness. Palliative Care is designed to help family membersas well.“Arms up like this.”“Health professionals working in Palliative Care have specialized training, additional training. And thatmeans we can provide not only an added layer of support but a different layer of support. That addedlayer of support is needed at every stage of a serious illness - from the point of diagnosis, as one isliving in a stable condition with a serious illness, and if and when that disease progresses.”Angela was three years into treatment when she started Palliative Care. But you can start at any point you feelyou need it.“We are working towards making sure that people diagnosed with a serious illness get palliative care asearly as possible so that they can benefit, from all the supports that Palliative Care provides.”Palliative Care is given where people are treated for their condition. Today most often in hospitals. But also:Clinics; Doctors’ offices; Senior living communities - including assisted living facilities and nursing homes; Orwherever you call home.“How can people find Palliative Care? I think the first thing to do is to talk to your doctor. Everyoneknows that when your doctor thinks you need a specialist, they make a referral. And it’s exactly thesame with Palliative Care.”“So, anything that you do that is making you feel that way?”Because Palliative Care is a relatively new area of medicine, you may need to ask for it. Don’t be afraid tospeak up.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG54648A EN PalliativeCareGettingStarted.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 2Palliative Care: Getting Started“Many patients are worried about talking to their doctors about side effects, or symptoms, or worriesabout what’s going to happen in the future - because they want their doctor to focus on treating theirdisease. The public should know that Palliative Care is the standard of high-quality medical care forpeople living with a serious illness. If you’re not getting it, demand it, find it, and advocate for it.”As for the cost, insurance typically pays for Palliative Care.“Whether you get insurance through your job, or you have Medicare, or you have Medicaid - PalliativeCare is covered.”“Your primary care doctor, um.”If you are concerned about dealing with insurance coverage, ask the social worker or financial consultant onthe palliative care team for help. That’s what Angela did.“She helped me with the whole paperwork, with the insurance. She did everything herself; and I, thanksto her, I got approved.”Angela says that kind of support from her Palliative Care Team has allowed her to stay focused on whatmatters most: her health - and her family.“They tell me - ‘you don’t worry, we worry about it; we take care of it. Focus on you, and on the kids We got it.’”This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.PRG54648A EN PalliativeCareGettingStarted.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 2 of 2
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