Myth: Palliative care is only for people in their final days of life.
Fact: Palliative Care can be provided along with a curative treatment. It is specialized medical care for people with serious illness and is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness.
Myth: Palliative care is only administered in a hospital.
Fact: Palliative care can be provided in a variety of settings including the hospital, outpatient clinic and at home.
Myth: Palliative care is only for the elderly.
Fact: Regardless of one’s age, palliative care is available to anyone facing a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, HIV/AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and other diseases.
Myth: Palliative care means giving up hope.
Fact: Receiving palliative care care does not mean giving up hope. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness along with a curative care. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.
Myth: Palliative care means giving up control.
Fact: A palliative care team works together with your doctors and the curative care team to create an extra layer of comfort and support. The patient and family is in control.
Myth: I can't afford Palliative Care.
Fact: Palliative care costs are covered by most private medical insurance plans, Medicare and Medicaid.
Myth: If I receive palliative care, I'll have to give up my primary doctor and all curative treatments.
Fact: Palliative care is provided by a team of palliative doctors, nurses and specialists, who work together with a patient’s primary doctor and other doctors to provide an extra layer of support focused on bringing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness.
