Palliative care is specialized medical care for both adults and children who are living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress that the illness causes. The goal of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and the patient’s family. So, who provides palliative care? In essence, the service is provided by a team of specially trained doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a patient’s other doctors in order to provide an additional level of support.

Palliative care is based on the needs of the patient, not on the prognosis of the patient. That means the care is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness. In addition, it can be provided along with curative treatment. The main goal of palliative care is to relieve the unnecessary suffering and provide the best possible quality of life for patients and their families. A patient’s symptoms may include pain, depression, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, and anxiety to name a few.

The palliative care team will help the patient gain the strength to carry on with their daily life. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, states that patients with a serious illness who received palliative care lived longer than those who did not receive this type of care. The palliative care team focuses on matching the treatment choices to the patient’s short term and long term goals. In essence they ensure that all of the patient’s doctors are aware of and fully understand exactly what the patient wants.

This aspect provides the patient with far more control of their care and their ultimate quality of life. Palliative care teams are specialists who work together with the patient, the patient’s family and loved one and the patient’s other doctors. In essence, they provide additional support when the patient needs it the most. In addition to treating the patient’s symptoms and stress and supporting them and their family, the palliative care team communicates with all of the patient’s doctors in order for everyone to be on the same page. The bottom line is that they support the patient each and every step of the way.

Please contact us today for more information about our Palliative care facility and program.

Matulaitis Rehabilitation and Skilled Care is the leading non-profit skilled nursing facility in Northeast Connecticut. We are proud to receive top national rankings and the highest five-star rating from Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare. Our dedicated staff combines renowned care and exceptional nursing skills with a holistic approach. We fully realize that the restoration of your health and well-being after an illness, operation, or injury can be incredibly difficult.

Our long term care features attention to the whole person, assuring individualized care for fullness of living, spiritual welfare, and providing a sense of community with enriching programming. We invite you to learn more about our special smoke-free facility as you consider your own or a loved one’s needs.