Palliative Care for Caregivers & Family

At AtlantiCare, we understand that serious illness doesn’t just affect the patient. It can also take a significant toll on loved ones—especially those tasked with handling all the daily challenges of care.

That’s why our palliative care services are designed for caregivers, too. Our specially trained team of doctors, nurses and other experts help ease the burden with hands-on support. At the same time, we give special focus to your own physical, emotional and spiritual well-being. After all, when you’re well taken care of, so is the patient.

Let Us Support You

Palliative care doesn’t replace your role as primary caregiver. Actually, it’s meant to give you more control by helping better you manage the ups and downs of illness and the complex medical decisions that come with it.

Our team is here to support you with:

• Ongoing education: We take the time to explain how the condition may impact your loved one, now and in the future, so you can make informed decisions. Together, we’ll also explore individual and family goals, and help match those to specific treatment options. That includes addressing any social or spiritual considerations.
• Practical tools: The main goal of palliative care is to relieve the symptoms of chronic disease for our patients, which may involve changing the way they do routine things like eating, walking or going to the bathroom. Our experts can show you ways to better assist with these tasks; for example, helping them get dressed without causing physical pain. These tools can give you more confidence in your role.
• Stress-management: Just as we help patients cope with the emotional challenges of their condition, we do the same for their caregivers. Our team is always here to answer your questions, hear your frustrations and help you take the steps to feel healthier and find the peace of mind you deserve.

Is Palliative Care Right for You?

Palliative care has proven to dramatically improve the quality of life for patients and families coping with serious disease. It can be given any age and any stage of the illness. Answer these questions to help determine if palliative care may be right for you or someone you love. Then talk to your doctor about a referral. 

Need a primary care plus provider? Call 1-888-569-1000.

1. Do you have one or more serious illnesses such as:

• Cancer
• Congestive heart failure (CHF)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, lung disease
• Kidney failure
• Liver failure
• Neurological diseases (e.g., ALS, Parkinson's)
• Dementia

2. Do you have symptoms that make it difficult to be as active as you would like to be, or impact your quality of life? These symptoms might include:

• Pain or discomfort
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Lack of appetite
• Nausea
• Constipation

3. Have you, or someone close to you, experienced the following:

• Difficult side effects from treatment
• Eating problems due to a serious illness
• Frequent emergency room visits
• Three or more admissions to the hospital within 12 months, and with the same symptoms

4. Do you, or someone close to you, need help with:

• Knowing what to expect
• Knowing what programs and resources are available
• Making medical decisions about treatment choices/options
• Matching your goals and values to your medical care
• Understanding the pros and cons (benefits/burdens) of treatments (e.g., dialysis, additional cancer treatments, surgery, etc.)

5. Do you, or someone close to you, need help with:

• Coping with the stress of a serious illness
• Emotional support
• Spiritual or religious support
• Talking with your family about your illness and what is important to you

Questions from: getpalliativecare.org