Palliative Care

Palliative care is specialized medical care designed for people living with a serious or chronic illness. The primary goal is to relieve pain, manage symptoms, and reduce stress—improving the overall quality of life for both the patient and their family.

This type of care can be provided at any age and at any stage of illness, and it’s not limited to those at the end of life. Palliative care can be given alongside treatments aimed at curing the illness.

A Team-Based Approach to Whole-Person Care

Palliative care is delivered by a specially trained team of doctors, nurses, social workers, and other healthcare professionals. This team works closely with your existing medical providers to offer an extra layer of support that addresses not just physical symptoms, but also emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs.

How Palliative Care Is Different from Hospice Care

Although palliative and hospice care focus on comfort and quality of life, they are not the same:

  • Palliative care can be provided at any point during a serious illness—even while curative treatments continue.
  • Hospice care is typically offered to those with a prognosis of six months or less and focuses entirely on comfort without curative intent.


Palliative care is ideal for managing complex, ongoing health conditions that may not be terminal but still cause significant discomfort and require coordinated care.

Think of It as a Bridge

Palliative care acts as a bridge between curative treatment and hospice care. If you’re managing a long-term condition that affects your daily life—like heart failure, COPD, cancer, Parkinson’s, or advanced kidney disease—palliative care helps ease your journey through the healthcare system.

It’s especially useful when a condition involves:

  • Multiple medications or treatments
  • Frequent hospital visits
  • Emotional or spiritual distress
  • Difficult decisions about care options

Where and How Palliative Care Is Offered

Palliative care services can be provided in a hospital, outpatient clinic, long-term care facility, or in your home. Many hospice organizations also offer palliative care programs, and palliative care physicians often work with hospice teams.

When to Ask for Palliative Care

If you or a loved one is:
  • Living with a serious or chronic illness
  • Experiencing pain, fatigue, anxiety, or shortness of breath
  • Feeling overwhelmed by treatment decisions
  • Needing support for emotional, social, or spiritual concerns

… then palliative care may be right for you. Talk to your healthcare provider about a referral.

You don’t have to wait for a crisis to seek relief. Palliative care is about living better, no matter where you are in your health journey.

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