To help you decide if palliative and end-of-life care is right for you, answer yes or no to these 5 questions. You can answer these questions for yourself or for someone close to you. Remember, you can get palliative care at any point in your illness.
1. Do you have 1 or more serious illnesses such as:
-
cancer
-
congestive heart failure
- dementia
- kidney failure
- liver failure – such as cirrhosis
-
lung disease – such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis
- nervous system disease such as ALS or Parkinson's
- other
2. Do your symptoms make it hard to live your life and be active? These symptoms may include:
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anxiety or depression
-
breathing problems
- constipation
- discomfort or pain
- feeling very tired
- nausea or not wanting to eat
3. Do you find it hard to manage your illness because you:
-
find it hard to eat because of your illness
-
get bad side effects from treatment
- have problems getting in or out of bed, bathing, or getting dressed
- go to the emergency department often
- have been in the hospital 3 or more times in the last year with the same symptoms
4. Do you have questions and need help:
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knowing what you can expect in the future because of your serious or chronic illness (your prognosis)
-
learning what healthcare programs and resources are there for you
-
finding help to navigate the healthcare system, getting transportation help, help with medicines and pharmacy needs
-
making decisions about treatments and where to get care
- understanding the risks and benefits of treatments such as dialysis, cancer treatments, or surgery
- matching your
goals of care designation and values to your medical care
5. Do you need more help:
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dealing with the stress of your illness
-
finding emotional support
- finding help with your finances as a result of your illness
- getting spiritual or faith-based support
- talking to your family about your illness and what is important to you
Check your answers.
If you answered
no 5 times, you may not need palliative and end-of-life care right now. But if you still feel you'd like to find out more or find out what support is available for you contact the palliative care team in your area or talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your concerns and what you need.
If you answered
yes 1 to 3 times, you may find that some palliative and end-of-life care support would be useful. If you think it might help you, contact the palliative care team in your area or talk to your doctor or healthcare provider.
If you answered
yes 4 or 5 times, start by talking to your doctor or healthcare provider. Tell them that you'd like to talk to the palliative and end-of-life care team.
