Palliative

CARE

Specialized medical care for people with a serious illness; provided in-home and at accessible locations.

Focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness, it can be offered for months to years to patients desiring support while still seeking curative care to impact disease outcomes.

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"I didn't know what Congestive Heart Failure was, just that it was hard to breathe.  I saw a flyer about Hawai‘i Care Choices in my doctor's office and called.  The nurse visited me at home, taught me about my illness and how I could feel better.  Now I can play with my grandson again." 

• Comfort care with or without curative intent

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• Care is begun at the discretion of the physician and patient at any time, at any stage of illness, terminal or not.

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• Palliative care, from office visits to prescription charges, is paid for by insurance, by the patient or by charity.

Offered by Both

• Pain and Symptom Relief

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• Interdisciplinary team addresses physical, emotional and spiritual pain, including such common worries as loss of independence, the well-being of the family and feeling like a burden.

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• Provided wherever patient calls home, and accessible locations.

• Comfort care without curative intent

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• Patient is certified by two physicians to have 6-months or less to live if the disease follows its natural course

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• Paid 100 percent by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance; it is the only Medicare benefit that includes pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, 24/7 access to care, nursing, social services, spiritual care visits, grief support following a death and other services deemed appropriate.

Are you experiencing the following?

• Frequent Emergency Room or Urgent Care visits

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• Increased need to call or visit the doctor

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• Diminished activity, such as difficulty managing finances, driving,grocery shopping, preparing meals, managing medication, and doing light housework?

Would you like help with?

• Comprehensive care coordination, emotional support and symptom management

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• Education on proper medication use and monitoring of patient's condition

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• Referrals to helpful services in the community

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• Support with Advanced Care Planning  – Making your wishes known.

"Before, I was going to the ER at least once a month.  It has been four months with Hawai‘i Care Choices' palliative program and I haven't visited the ER yet." 

Palliative Care works – in 2017 our patients experienced:

Palliative Care Support Can:

• Improve Quality of Life

• Relieve pain and physical/emotional stress

• Reduce Health Care Crisis

• Avoid Hospitalizations