Palliative Care is a term that describes interdisciplinary care that aims to relieve suffering and improve the quality of living and dying. The palliative care team of caregivers includes physicians, nurses, social workers, pastoral services, dieticians and volunteers. Palliative care can be applied to any diagnosis and patients of any age. Palliative care complements disease-modifying therapy and may become the total focus of care.

Palliative care is not another term for Hospice. Hospice care specifically refers to the support and care for persons in the last phase of an incurable disease with an anticipated survival of 6 months or less. Hospice care can be provided in the hospital or at home. The goals of treatment are comfort measures and end of life care. Managing pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and other end of life symptoms are included in the goals of hospice care. Although palliative care has similar goals of care interventions by the interdisciplinary team are applied any point in time of treatment up to and including end of life.

At Hartford Hospital the Palliative Care Unit offers inpatient symptom management and end of life care. Many patients are discharged to home or an extended care facility if long term care is required. Some patients are admitted as hospice patients, however the majority are admitted for symptom management. The Palliative care team works closely with the patient and family to determine needs and wishes for managing or improving quality of living and dying.

For more information or to contact someone about palliative care at Hartford Hospital, you can call Beth Lada Morse, RN, Nurse Director at (860) 545-0444.