Page 30 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Winter 2021 - Online Magazine

SENIOR RESOURCES

What is
Palliative Palliative Care services are billed

through Medicare Part B, while home
health is billed through Part A. This
care? by Scott Caldwell in tandem with other in-home
allows Palliative Care to be provided
services.

How to Know if Palliative
Care is right for you or a
loved one.
Have you ever heard the term, support and is a partner with your
“Palliative Care”? The chances are, primary doctor(s), specialist(s) and You, or your loved one, may be a
even if you have heard this term, other provider(s). good candidate for Palliative Care if
you may have received conflicting you have a serious illness or chronic
information and still might be What Palliative Care Is! condition that affects your daily
confused as to exactly what it is and living. This may include, but is not
why you are reading about it right • Palliative Care, and the medical limited to:
now! specialty of Palliative Medicine,
is specialized medical care that • Cancer
This is because Palliative Care, as provides relief from the symptoms • Heart Disease (CHF)
a medical specialty, is relatively and stress of a serious illness. The
new and has often been used goal is to improve quality of life for • Lung Disease (COPD)
interchangeably with Hospice. both you and your family.
However, it is NOT Hospice. In fact, • Kidney Disease
if you live with one or more serious • A team of specialists, including
illnesses or chronic conditions that doctors, nurse practitioners, and • Alzheimer’s or Dementia
affect your daily living, Palliative nurses, provide Palliative Care • ALS and more
Care may change your life in a very as an extra layer of support. The
positive way! Palliative Care can Palliative Care team works as the Begin Palliative Care early.
help you or a loved one’s peace of “quarterback” for you and your
mind and quality of life in navigating health care team, helping navigate Palliative Care can occur at the same
the very confusing and intimidating and coordinate the care you need time as all other treatments for your
world of healthcare. and receive. illness. There’s absolutely no reason

What Palliative Care is NOT! • It is appropriate at any age and at to wait. In fact, some studies have
shown that Palliative Care may
any stage in a serious illness, and it
Palliative Care is NOT hospice. In can be provided along with curative extend life. Pain and other symptoms
affect your quality of life, and stress
simplest terms, the difference can be and restorative treatment. can have a big impact on your family.
summed up by two factors: The Palliative Care team can help.
• Prognosis - Hospice prognosis is Your insurance will cover
typically six months or less while “I had no idea what Palliative Care was Palliative Care.
Palliative Care is six months or or how much my mother needed it! We
more. knew my mom wasn’t ready for hospice Most insurance plans, including
but definitely needed some help with
• Curative and Restorative Treatment her care. Having a caring, kind Nurse Medicare, and other private
supplemental and primary policies,
- Hospice does not focus on curative Practitioner come to our home was an cover Palliative Care. It is handled
and/or restorative treatment, while answered prayer!” like any other medical service, such as
Palliative Care does.
- Erin O’Brien, Choice Health Patient oncology or cardiology.
• Additionally, Palliative Care Caregiver Getting Palliative Care is
is NOT a replacement to your easy. Just ask for Choice
existing doctor(s), specialist(s) and Health Palliative Care.
other provider(s). Palliative Care Palliative Care can be provided at the
is provided as an extra layer of same time as home health care. You may already have been referred

30 Amarillo Senior Link