Palliative Care in Chicagoland

Redefining Palliative Care

Managing a serious, chronic condition can feel overwhelming and take a toll on your body, mind and spirit. That’s where palliative care comes in. Designed to ease the burden of managing a chronic condition, your palliative care program team, whether in-hospital or community-based, can help relieve your symptoms, improve your quality of life and address your mental and spiritual health needs.

Our teams are specialty-trained to support you and your family wherever you are in your health care journey. From praying with you to ensuring you’re treated with the respect and dignity you deserve, our mission is to provide palliative care that extends the healing ministry of Christ.

Palliative Care FAQs

Palliative care brings together important resources for patients and their families to face serious health diagnoses with confidence, comfort and grace. Whether you’re wondering if your loved one needs palliative care or hospice care, or when palliative care may be needed, learn more below.

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  • Question: What is palliative care?

    Answer:

    Palliative care means offering relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of chronic illnesses.

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    For patients who face a serious illness, palliative care improves their quality of life and supports their loved ones, too. Palliative care focuses on the prevention and relief of symptoms by early identification, impeccable assessment and compassionate treatment of physical, mental and spiritual issues.

    This palliative definition from the World Health Organization (WHO) focuses on meeting the whole-health needs of patients and their families. And that’s exactly what we do at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth. You can count on us to be here for you, helping you understand your diagnosis, connecting you with resources and support and ensuring you feel comfortable at every step of your treatment plan.

    Our palliative care teams support:

    • ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
    • Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias
    • Cancer
    • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
    • Congestive heart failure
    • Heart disease
    • Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS)
    • Kidney disease
    • Lung disease
    • Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases
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  • Question: What does palliative care mean?

    Answer:

    Palliative care supports you and your family as you navigate your physical, mental and spiritual health needs.

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    Palliative care means we’re here to address every aspect of your health — physical, mental and spiritual — as you face your condition.

    Both community-based and in-hospital services provide discussions about your preferences for care, advanced care planning as well as:

    • Comfort care
    • Emotional support
    • Improving quality of life
    • Offering symptom relief
    • Physical and psychosocial relief
    • Reducing stress
    • Spiritual care, if desired

    Both palliative care programs offer important resources and support for your family to help you on your journey. Each care plan is tailored to your specific needs, but plans often include:

    • Affirmation of life
    • Bereavement care
    • Education on disease and diagnosis
    • Family support
    • Home help with transportation, meals or shopping
    • Pain relief
    • Physical care
    • Psychological care
    • Respite care
    • Spiritual care
    • Treatment management
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  • Question: What is the difference between in-hospital and community-based palliative care?

    Answer:

    The main difference between these two services is the location where care is given.

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    In-hospital palliative care, offered at our UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Hinsdale and La Grange hospitals, will likely include many health professionals, including:

    • Case management members
    • Chaplains
    • ICU and therapy teams
    • Nurse practitioners

    These experts collaborate to address your whole health. Using a combination of pain management techniques, mental health care and spiritual support, we’ll ensure your treatment plan helps you feel like yourself again.

    Community-based palliative care, offered through UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Medical Group, will likely include health professionals such as:

    • Collaborating physicians
    • Nurse practitioners
    • Social workers
    • Triage nurses

    Our community-based team sees most of their patients in their own homes across the Chicagoland area. They also care for patients in hospitals, independent living, assisted living and long-term care nursing facilities.

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  • Question: What’s the difference between palliative care and hospice care?

    Answer:

    Hospice care aims to comfort patients during their last days, while palliative care assists with everyday needs for those facing serious illnesses.

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    Palliative and hospice care are often confused but aren’t the same thing. Hospice care focuses on end-of-life care, offering dignity and comfort during a loved one’s final days. In contrast, palliative care focuses on helping you live every day to its fullest during any stage of health.

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  • Question: Does Medicare cover palliative care services?

    Answer:

    Medicare covers some palliative care services, but it’s best to speak to your local hospital's financial assistance team.

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    Understanding what services are covered by insurance, including Medicare, can feel overwhelming. Some palliative care services may be covered by certain Medicare plans. However, the best place to begin understanding your coverage is to speak to the financial assistance office at your local hospital.

    UChicago Medicine AdventHealth is committed to helping you understand your insurance benefits, including what palliative care services are covered by Medicare.

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Palliative Care Designed for Your Needs

At UChicago Medicine AdventHealth, we’re committed to providing you with the expert care you need, wherever you are.

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Your Next Step in Whole-Person Healthcare

Our palliative care teams at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth are here to support your whole health in body, mind and spirit. Wherever you are in the Chicagoland area, we’re here for you. Find relief by taking your next step with palliative care today.