Supportive and Palliative Care
Supportive and palliative care is devoted to providing expert medical, emotional and spiritual care to people with serious life-limiting illness. It provides unique support and long-term treatment to people living with chronic or complex illness, managing symptoms to increase comfort, improve quality of life and reduce stress. Conditions can include cancer, advanced heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), organ failure, stroke, Alzheimer’s Disease and others.
Palliative and supportive care can be provided in the home, hospital or a multitude of places, including assisted living facilities.
With palliative and supportive care, we:
Provide total active care for persons with advanced medical illness, especially those with chronic and progressive life-limiting conditions, and greater understanding of conditions and choices for medical care.
Relieve suffering that often accompanies severe disease or treatment, including pain, fatigue, weight loss, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, weakness and other symptoms.
Ease stress that results from serious illnesses and their treatment with spiritual, social and emotional support for patients and family members.
Help patients and their families live as fully and comfortably as possible during their illness and beyond—improving daily function and preparing for the future.
This is accomplished through:
- Specialized medical care targeted at symptoms affecting quality of life and making disease treatment more tolerable
- Medication review by specialized pharmacists to optimize treatment and avoid dangerous medication interactions
- Social worker assistance with counseling, education and accessing services in the community
- Home health care and home services to preserve independence
- Physical and occupational therapy services to maximize strength, function and mobility
- Nutritional counseling for an optimal diet
- Psychological counseling to manage anxiety, depression, body image concerns, family or social environment and other issues
- Spiritual direction from chaplains
Meet Dr. Mohit Chawla, a geriatrician at St. Bernards Senior Health Clinic who specializes in palliative care.