Palliative care aims to reduce suffering and improve quality of life for patients with chronic or advanced illness. In our palliative care service, called Transitions and Life Choices (TLC), a specialized team provides care in the patient's home, also supporting the patient's family and caregivers.

To arrange a consultation, please call:
612-728-2468 or toll-free, 866-827-5039

Who can benefit

Patients may receive palliative care whether they decide to continue medical treatment with the goal of a cure of if they want only treatment to manage suffering and improve quality of life. Palliative care treats and reduces symptoms as well as addresses spiritual and emotional concerns.

Palliative care is available for those with a chronic or advanced illness, for instance:

• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Lung disease
• Neurological diseases
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Dementia
• Diabetes
• AIDS

Planning for your care

Decisions about your care are deeply personal and are based on your values, preferences and discussions with your loved ones. The decisions about your care, should you become unable to speak for yourself, are yours to make, regardless of what care you choose. It is important that your choices for care are written down so they can be respected and fulfilled. We would be honored to help provide information and answer questions as you put into writing what types of care you would or would not want should you be unable to speak for yourself.

When to consider palliative care

People arrive at the decision to receive palliative care at varying times since each person's situation is different. These are some of the things that may lead to consideration of palliative care:

• Difficulties managing the illness
• Questions about the future because of the illness
• Distressing symptoms such as pain, depresssion, nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue or anxiety
• A desire to learn more about available treatments and care choices
• Emotional difficulties such as loss of hope
• Help in thinking through difficult medical decisions
• Family disagreements related to the illness
• A mind, body and spirit approach to care
• Repeated hospitalizations
• Not ready to consider hospice care

The TLC team and services

Our TLC home care team includes specially trained individuals who, together, provide many services, depending on your needs. The team includes nurses, social workers, physicians, spiritual care providers, home health aides, pharmacists, and physical, occupational and speech therapists. We coordinate care with your own physician.

Making the decision about palliative care services

A first step in your deciding about TLC services will include a conversation with members of our team. They will help you learn about and choose the options you feel are most appropriate -- and plan for the care before you need it.

Insurance

We will be happy to discuss insurance coverage with you, including Medicare and Medical Assistance and private insurance. Private pay options are also available.