Palliative Care: Living Better With Chronic Illness

“Chronic diseases like heart failure, kidney disease, dementia, ALS, and cancer are challenging to manage,” says Heather DeMeno, a Grand View Health nurse practitioner certified in hospice and palliative medicine. “The Palliative Care program at Grand View Health provides clinical expertise and resources to make the journey easier.”

Unlike hospice, which provides end-of life care, individuals receiving palliative care can graduate from the program and go on to live healthier lives. DeMeno says, “It’s wise to consider palliative care, if you or your loved one experiences any of the following:

• Hospitalization for a chronic condition more than once in three months
• New or additional symptoms related to their condition
• A diagnosis of Stage 3 or Stage 4 cancer

Grand View Health’s Palliative Care program is led by certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs) under the supervision of two medical directors. The team also includes social workers. It’s one of the only programs offering care both in the hospital and at a patient’s place of residence.

“For example, a heart failure patient may receive palliative care visits in the hospital to help with shortness of breath,” DeMeno says. “Then, at home, a CRNP may visit to check the patient’s fluid levels, and a social worker could visit to help the patient cope with anxiety.”

Should a patient need more than one home visit a month, the palliative care team will coordinate additional visits from Grand View Home Care.

Most insurance plans cover palliative care as a specialist visit. A doctor’s referral is required.

Learn more at: GVH.org/palliative-care.