Palliative Care
What is Palliative Care
Palliative care is designed to provide relief from symptoms from serious illnesses and side effects of treatments. Patients can receive palliative care while working towards a cure or transitioning to end of life care. The diagnosis of a serious illness does not always require hospice services.
What Palliative Care Can Offer
- Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms (physical, psychosocial, and spiritual)
- Helps to manage the stress of living with a serious illness
- Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care
- Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible and adjust to changes in abilities
- Offers a support system to help families cope
- Uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families
- Helps to make a plan for end-of-life care
Conditions which Could Benefit From Palliative Care
- Alzheimer’s disease/dementia
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Cancer
- COPD/Emphysema
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
Myths of Palliative Care
Palliative Care is only for people who are dying.
Palliative Care is only provided in a hospital.
Palliative Care is only for patients diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Palliative Care is another term for hospice.
Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care
Palliative Care
Hospice Care
Length of Care
Begins at the onset of diagnosis, treatment may last until patient is cured or transitioned to end of life.
Six months or longer if physician certifies.
Goals of Care
Cost
Start of Service
Any stage of treatment.
Patient begins at later stage of illness with end stage prognosis.
Length of Care
Palliative Care
Begins at the onset of diagnosis, treatment may last until patient is cured or transitioned to end of life.Hospice Care
Six months or longer if physician certifies.Goals of Care
Palliative Care
Symptom management can be provided simultaneously with curative treatment.
Hospice Care
Comfort & quality of life.Cost
Palliative Care
Before we initiate services, our liaisons will work with you to understand any out-of-pocket expense.Hospice Care
In most cases 100% of all costs are covered.Start of Service
Palliative Care
Any stage of treatment.Hospice Care
Patient begins at later stage of illness with end stage prognosis.Who Pays for Home Health Care?
Certified home health care services are ordered by a physician, require skilled care, and is typically paid for by Medicare or other health insurances plans.









Pathways Service Areas

Included Towns
Insurance Accepted in Massachusetts







Included Towns
Insurance Accepted in Massachusetts





Included Towns
Insurance Accepted in New Hampshire





Included Towns
Insurance Accepted in Rhode Island



Included Towns
Insurance Accepted in Pennsylvania


