Palliative Care

If you or a loved one is suffering from a serious or life-threatening illness, palliative care can help you live well in the face of physical and personal changes. Mayo Clinic Health System looks beyond disease to see the whole person. We provide supportive and holistic palliative care when you need it most.

Our palliative medicine specialists help ease the physical, emotional and spiritual burden of an illness and its treatment. They build relationships with you and your caregivers to improve comfort and quality of life throughout the course of an illness.

Find out more about our palliative care services:

• Conditions and consultations
• Services
• Palliative care specialists
• Referrals
• FAQ
• Palliative care locations near you
• Palliative care providers near you

Conditions and consultations

Palliative care is a patient- and family-centered approach to living with a chronic disease or illness. Our team supports anyone with a serious diagnosis throughout their entire care journey. Integrating palliative care early in the course of an illness can provide better outcomes in terms of your physical and emotional symptoms.

You should consider palliative care:

• For frequent emergency room visits (two or more visits for the same condition within several months)
• For repeated hospital admissions (three or more in 12 months)
• When a medical condition begins to deteriorate
• When you receive a new diagnosis of a serious illness
• When questions arise about surgery or other invasive procedures

Back to top

Services

Our palliative specialists serve as an extra layer of support for you and your caregivers as you navigate the healthcare system and treatment. They break complex information into digestible pieces so that you can make informed decisions about your health and treatment.

Learn how our palliative care team can help you and your caregivers:

Our team works closely with you or your loved one to address physical and mental health symptoms, including:

• Anxiety
• Breathing difficulties
• Constipation
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Pain
• Poor appetite
• Sleeping difficulties

They are also specially trained to help you and your caregivers:

• Access bereavement services
• Communicate do-not-resuscitate orders and get a bracelet
• Complete a Health Care Power of Attorney document and file it in your electronic medical record
• Cope with spiritual and emotional distress, including anger, sadness, loneliness, fear and frustration
• Discuss treatment options
• Encourage quality of life
• Establish realistic goals for the future
• Find resources
• Make difficult decisions
• Navigate advance care planning

Back to top

Palliative care specialists

Palliative care is a specialty aimed at helping your providers deliver the best quality care possible. Your palliative care team collaborates with other specialists to provide support and guidance for you or your loved one.

Our specialists include:

• Physicians
• Advanced practice providers
• Registered nurses
• Social workers
• Pharmacists
• Chaplains

Back to top

Referrals

A referral is required for palliative care. Talk with your primary care provider to determine if palliative care is right for you and to arrange a referral.

If you are a provider, you can refer a patient online, by phone or by fax.

Back to top

FAQ

When should palliative care begin?

For many people, palliative care begins shortly after the diagnosis of a serious illness. It involves a specialized team approach and focuses on improving a person's quality of life throughout the course of the illness.

Does palliative care replace primary medical treatment?

Palliative care does not take the place of your primary medical treatment. Instead, it supplements the care you already get. You or your loved one receives palliative care along with other medical treatments, such as:

• Cardiac care
• Cancer care
• Hospice care
• Intensive care

What is the difference between palliative care and hospice?

Palliative care and hospice both provide support and holistic care, but there are critical differences:

• Palliative care is a specialized service focused on relieving symptoms, stress and pain associated with serious illness. It is appropriate at any stage of disease and can be provided alongside curative or life-prolonging treatment. Palliative care prioritizes improving quality of life for patients and their families through comprehensive, team-based support. It can be provided in many settings, including hospitals, physician offices, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and at home.
• Hospice care is available when life expectancy is six months or fewer, although it can continue for longer periods of time. Hospice services provide comfort and guidance when treatment no longer makes sense or when treatment for your underlying disease is no longer being offered to you. Many people receive hospice care at home, but it can also be provided at a hospital, long-term care setting or freestanding hospice facility.

Should I have an advance directive if I am receiving palliative care?

Anyone over the age of 18 can create an advance care plan (advance directive) to document their wishes for care. An advance care plan eases some of the decision-making burden for your loved ones in the event you can no longer make decisions for yourself. It is never too early to create an advance care plan.

Does insurance cover palliative care?

Health insurance varies. Contact your insurance provider for your palliative care coverage details. Our Patient Account Services team is happy to answer any questions and help you navigate billing and insurance.

We serve patients in difficult financial circumstances. We offer financial assistance to those who have an established need to receive medically necessary services.

Back to top

Explore locations or providers near you for details on palliative care: