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FAQ

When is the right time for palliative care?

The right time for palliative care varies depending on patients’ need. It can start at any time while patient is undergoing curative treatments. Palliative care focuses on symptoms and alleviation of pain from serious illness and side effects from treatment. Palliative care Physicians, nurses, and other members of our team will work with your loved ones to identify a patient centered goals including symptoms relieve, counselling, spiritual comfort or whatever you feel will enhance your quality of life.

 When is the right time for hospice?

Hospice care can begin when a doctor decides the patient’s life expectancy is six months or less if the illness follows its usual path. The doctor can certify the patient for longer periods if your loved one lives beyond six months.

Is it time for Hospice? If four or more of these apply to you, hospice might be the right answer:

• The patient chooses to pursue care focused on comfort rather than treatment focused on cure.
• Frequent hospitalizations or trips to the E.R in the last 6 months.
• Reoccurring infection or non-healing wound.
• Reduced desire to eat, leading to significant weight loss with noticeable loose clothing.
• Visible decline in health over past six months, even with aggressive medical treatments.
• Uncontrolled pain, shortness of breath even at rest, nausea or vomiting.
• Physician has given life expectancy of six months or less.
• Decreasing alertness, withdrawal, increased sleeping or mental confusion
• Inability to perform tasks of daily living, such as eating, walking, using the bathroom, personal cleaning or getting dressed.
• Decision to focus on quality of life, instead of aggressive treatments.
• Increase in medication for physical pain.