Palliative and End-of-Life Care

Having a loved one who is near the end-of-life is stressful and difficult. You can work with your physician and facility staff to make sure that the resident/patient is comfortable, has the spiritual and other support he or she needs, and is treated with respect and dignity. In the nursing facility, hospice care may be needed for residents/patients with advanced dementia or terminal illnesses such as cancer. However, palliative care - which is part of hospice care - generally can benefit all residents/patients. Hospice care is more global, involving the overall support and care for the dying person. Palliative care involves managing specific problems such as pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea - sometimes called “comfort care.” It can be hard to decide when to put a loved one into hospice care (which they generally access in the nursing facility), but the physician can help with this important decision. He or she also can help tend to the needs of the resident/patient as well as the grieving family members.

AMDA physicians in regions throughout the country have information and guidance on this topic. You can listen to practitioners offer key points about end-of-life and palliative care and how you and your doctor can help make the right decisions about this care.

Listen* to an interview with:

Alva “Buzz” S. Baker, MD, CMD	Maryland
Harold B. Bob, MD, CMD	Maryland
Jennifer Chambers, MD, MBA	Pennsylvania
Leonard R. Hock Jr., DO, CMD	Florida/Kansas
Robert L. Hunter, DO, CMD	Ohio
James E. Lett, II, MD, CMD	California
William D. Smucker, MD, CMD	Ohio
Peter Winn, MD, CMD	Oklahoma
*Requires a program that plays MP3 audio files

"Caring for Consumers" clip and copy advice sheets, designed for residents/patients, family members, and future consumers of long term care services, include an introduction to the topic, tips for addressing the issue and enhancing care, a list of questions to ask the physician, and a list of additional resources. Feel free to print and use when speaking to your family and physician.

What to Expect at the End of Life
End of Life Doesn’t Mean End of Joy, Love